Flames coach Mario Marinica says he does not expect something extraordinary from his foreign-based players in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt due to lack of adequate game time.

Instead, the Romanian said he will bank on strategy and overall team performance.

The coach was speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s encounter against the Pharaohs in Cairo.

He said: “Obviously, we didn’t expect miracles as we knew all along that the Mozambican league has not started.

“Gaba, [Dennis] Chembezi, Peter Banda and Khuda [Muyaba] have hardly been involved in recent games, if any.

Mhango (C), Banda (L) and Muyaba captured in Egypt on Tuesday

“So, we will bank on strategic factors  and overall team performance rather than individuals.”

Meanwhile,  the coach has clarified that he has not changed the Flames captaincy.

Marinica’s stance follows reports that he had fired captain John ‘CJ’ Banda and replaced him with AmaZulu’s Frank Gabadinho Mhango.

But the Romanian tactician said the Flames captain remains Limbikani Mzava.

Marinica said: “Protocol was like this, Mzava is the team captain. John CJ is the vice-captain.  Since Mzava is out, CJ has become team captain with [Stanley] Sanudi as vice-captain.

“During Chan [Africa Nations Championship] as CJ was not eligible for the games, Sanudi became the captain with Micium Mhone as the vice-captain.

“Gaba is one of the senior well-established players, but we have a well-established structure that has not been changed yet.”

However, Marinica said this does not rule out Mhango from wearing the armband if need arises.

He said: “If we were to change it, we have a proper protocol in place.

“That obviously, doesn’t mean excluding Gaba to take over the armband at a point in a match or him to have more responsibility delegated.”

Meanwhile  Egypt coach Rui Vitoria told a press briefing in Cairo that his main worry is the return leg playing conditions in the country hit by the Cyclone Freddy.

 He said: “The game against Malawi [in Lilongwe] will be played at 3pm during Ramadan, but we will prepare ourselves to face all barriers, including the hot weather and expected rainfall.”

The post Marinica banks on teamwork first appeared on The Nation Online.