YOUTHFUL Young Africans fought bravely to hold hosts Nyasa Big Bullets to a barren draw in an international friendly game at Bingu wa Mutharika Stadium in Lilongwe yesterday.
The match was part of celebrations to mark the Malawi’s 59th independence anniversary.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan and his host Lazarus Chakwera also were the chief guests in the 70-minute encounter.
Despite ending in a barren draw, the match was good and delighted football fans at the fully-packed Bingu Stadium.
After the highly entertaining first half, both presidents left the stadium for other duties.
It was a tactical game, with the both sides enjoying good scoring chances.
The second half saw both sides coming with determination to win, but none managed to score until the final whistle.
The visitors suffered a blow early in the first half when Denis Nkane was stretched off the pitch after picking up an injury that required immediate medical attention.
However, on Wednesday night, during a state banquet organised by President Chakwera in honour of President Samia, Yanga unveiled their 2023/24 season kits.
Yanga’s president Hersi Said presented a yellow jersey to the Malawian leader and a blue jersey to President Samia.
It was the first time for the Jangwani envoys to parade their freshly minted kits outside the country in the presence of two Heads of State.
Immediately after the introduction, social media platforms were awash with the new pairs of jerseys, which received mixed reactions from club fans.
According to Yanga Media and Communication Manager Ally Kamwe, they will inform the public of the number of jerseys they sold within 24 hours of being introduced.
“We will inform the public of the number of jerseys we sold within 24 hours. I can assure you that our fans’ reception has been overwhelming, and they continue to buy them,” he said.
He thanked the Malawian President for accepting their request to unveil the jerseys at the Malawi State House. Stressing how honoured, they are to have that privilege.