Malawians react to Mtawali’s decision to drop Mhone

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Micium-Mhone
Mtawali sen Mhone back home.
Mtawali sen Mhone back home.

Flames coach Ernest Mtawali’s decision to drop Micium Mhone from Flames Cosafa Cup squad for lack of sportsmanship has been received with mixed reactions by football fans in Malawi.

Flames and Jomo Cosmos winger Micium Mhone was sent home by Mtawali after he refused a handshake with Muhammad Sulumba when he was substituted by his coach during Malawi’s 3-nil defeat to Zimbabwe in the Group L 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday afternoon.

Some football fans have expressed satisfaction with the coach’s decision to drop Mhone for his reaction claiming that the Flames mentor made a right decision as such his decision has to be respected by all the football fanatics in Malawi.

One of the football fanatics who was happy with the Flames mentor’s decision to drop Mhone from his Cosafa cup squad is Andrew Chiwaya.

Micium-Mhone
Micium-Mhone sent packing.

“I don’t have problems with Mtawali’s decision. Micium’s conduct following his substitution was regrettable,” he said.

Noel Amin also concurred with Chiwaya and said Mhone deserved to be dropped for lack of sportsmanship after being substituted by the Flames coach.

However, other fans were not happy with the decision and argued that Mtawali caused Mhone’s reaction when he substituted the player 15 minutes after introducing him.

One football fan, Dingeni Chris Chitekwe, said Mhone is one of the most disciplined members in the team and it was an insult to substitute him just 15 minutes after he came off the bench.

Chitekwe added that Mtawali is a clueless coach and he must be sacked soon after the Cosafa tournament.

Symon Maphang’ombe concurred with Chitekwe and said the Flames mentor should not have dropped a player of Mhone’s calibre.

“Sometimes I don’t understand Malawi national team coaches especially Mtawali why chasing a superhero like Micium?,” he questioned.

Mhone has since been replaced by Mighty Wanderers winger Isaac Kaliyati who is expected to join his teammates in South Africa before connecting to Windhoek where they will play Angola in the competition’s opener on Saturday.