COSAFA U-20: Young Flames deserve public holiday – Pofera

Malawi Under-20 national football team coach Millias Pofera has urged his country’s authorities to consider announcing a public holiday celebrating the team’s qualification to the COSAFA Youth Championship final on Friday.

The controversial coach made the suggestion during a post-match conference in Namibia after the Young Flames recorded a rare victory over their Zambian counterparts, beating them 2-1 in a semifinal match.

That feat, according to Pofera, was no mean achievement considering that Malawi always struggles against the Young Chipolopolo, adding that he could not remember the last time his side beat the rivals.

“As I said, we haven’t beaten Zambia [before Friday’s semifinal match]. Even if we can just pack up and go tomorrow, we will be happy people. I am asking the president, maybe they can consider giving us a public holiday. This is a very good victory for us as the nation,” the coach said leaving reporters in stitches.

Earlier during the press conference, Pofera said he was happy with the Young Flames’ victory but not their performance against Zambia.

“It was a tough match taking into consideration that Zambia has been beating us all along. I don’t even remember when we last beat Zambia. After our training session, I told the boys that this is the time we have to bring this to an end. We haven’t played well but what matters in football is winning games,” the coach said.

Malawi now date South Africa in the final on Sunday with the Young Flames seeking their first silverware in this age group. You just never know what else Pofera would request the nation to do for his boys in the event they lift the actual trophy.