Daily Times (Blantyre)
Peter Kanjere
12 February 2002
Blantyre — Malawi National soccer team should brace for tough opposition in preliminaries of the 2004 Africa Nation Cup edition as they are in group D of heavyweights Nigeria, Ghana, Djibout and Angola.
The Flames found themselves along the path of the Super Eagles following a Caf draw conducted on Saturday in Mali.
According to BBC reports the draw was conducted before 2002 Nations Cup third place play off that saw Nigeria beat hosts Mali 1-0.
There were no further details of draw for other groups.
Fam General Secretary Chris Kamhinda Banda said he is aware of reports that the Flames are in group D.
"The draw was conducted on Saturday and we are waiting for official details from Caf," said Kamphinda. "We cannot just rely on television reports."
The Flames, who have been just to one African Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoire in 1984, were booted out of Mali 2002 qualifiers in the preliminary round by Uganda.
They lost 1-3 away and 1-2 at home.
Meanwhile, the Flames trip to Port Elizabeth, South Africa got a boost with a K387,000 donations from companies and institutions.
Loita Investment Bank gave K122,000, Malawi Development Corporation gave K100,000 while Reserve Bank, Malawi Telecomunications Limited (MTL) and Nazer Tayub donated K50,000 each.
Lilongwe Water Board contributed K15,000.
Airport Development Limited and Dematt donated one return ticket each while Petrolium Control Commission offered four return air tickets.
Fam now have close to K700,000 following K200,000 from Iponga Superettes, K25,000 each from Bisnowy Filling Station and Global Travel, 20,000 from Central Poultry and K10,000 from 7 to 11 Mobile Resort.
The total cost for the trip to play friendly games against FC Copenhagen from Denmark, is K1.2 million.
Kamphinda acknowledged the gesture from the companies and institutions who have contributed towards the trip saying they still need some more help.
The team is expected to leave tomorrow and coach Kim Splidsboel said FC Copenghagen will meet food and accomodation expenses.(ACONS)
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