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Chiukepo seeks revival at BB

Big Bullets have, ahead of their daunting 2015 CAF Champions League campaign, provided the first reply to nagging questions over their squad depth by roping in one-time Flames’ saviour-in-chief Chiukepo Msowoya.

Msowoya has signed for Bullets from Mozambique’s Costa do Sol, leaving the TNM Super League champions with two options — of either adding him to the Champions League roaster at a fee of $500 (K221 000) or squeezing him as a replacement for an already registered player on the 24-member squad released on Friday.

Chiukepo seeks revival at BB
Chiukepo seeks revival at BB

Bullets general secretary Harold Fote yesterday confirmed the signing of the 2007 Golden Boot Award winner whose off-the-bench crucial goals propelled the Flames to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola — only for his magic to wane after a big money move to South Africa’s Orlando Pirates.

Msowoya also played for Liga Maculmana before signing for Pirates.

“He has signed as a free agent. We are still negotiating with him regarding personal terms,” Fote said about the striker who faces competition from registered Bullets strikers Jimmy Zakazaka, Jaffalie Chande, Frazer Menyani, Mussa Manyenje and Brown Mizeye.

On eight goals, Chande was Bullets’s top league scorer last season with most goals registered while at Epac.

Msowoya, who joined Escom United from Karonga ADD, dodged questions yesterday, but scout James Nelito Pondamale, who facilitated his transfer to Costa do Sol where he scored some goals backed his client to excel at Bullets.

“He only signed for one year at Costa do Sol and he did not extend it. I advised him to join BB to see how it goes, try to regain a little bit of form. Joseph Kamwendo took a similar humble step and his form picked up again. I advised him that people will talk, but it is not about what they say, but what you want,” Pondamale explained.

Yesterday, Bullets received further good news when tough-tackling sweeper Sankhani Mkandawire rescinded his resignation following a series of negotiations with some officials, including chairperson Kondie Msungama.

“In football, there will always be challenges, but it got too much, hence my earlier decision. I will not be specific because washing dirty linen in public is not my style. I prefer keeping it low. When leaving a team, it is unwise tarnishing its image. I was waiting for the right time to speak to someone who would understand the football language I was talking. Anyway, I will return to training and see out my contract,” said Mkandawire.

Mkandawire also dismissed talk that he might have resigned after being stripped of the [vice] captaincy, saying he respect current captain Fischer Kondowe “and all senior players such as Jimmy Zakazaka and James Chilapondwa”.

Grievances over unpaid salaries are believed to have led to the resignation of Mkandawire who claims his contract ends this April.

Fote, who was quoted in The Nation of Monday as saying they will not entice back the defender and that no player is indispensable, claimed Mkandawire’s contracts runs up to 2016.

 

 

 

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