Confusion over U-20 squad
Confusion surrounds a Super League players-studded Malawi Under-20 national team squad released on Friday to start preparations for the Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup to be staged in Mozambique in December.
The 29-member squad has some players that were promoted from the Under-17 to the Under-20 in 2012.
Players such as Levison Maganizo, Mark Fodya and Trevor Kalema, Abel Mwakilama and others, were registered as been born in 1995 back in 2012 when Malawi participated in Africa Youth Championship.
The squad has 25 Super League players in the squad including William Thole (Azam Tigers), Nixon Nyasulu (Big Bullets), Kondwani Mwaila (Silver Strikers), Precious Sambani (Be Forward Wanderers), Misheck Botomani, Kelvin Kadzinje, Patrick Phiri (Premier BetWizards), Ronald Pangani (Silver Strikers).
Under-20 coach Gerald Phiri was no available for comment, but FAM technical director John Kaputa yesterday disowned the squad, saying he was not part of selection process as if the case with other junior national teams.
He said: “I was not part of the meeting where they selected the players. They met at night and came up with the list. I don’t know why they did this. I only got the list today (Saturday).”
Kaputa said he was also appalled by the inclusion of Super League players in the squad.
The inclusion of the players, according to Kaputa, raised questions on their eligibility.
He said he expected players that graduated from the Under-17 lower league players to be in the squad.
But out of the 29, players that have graduated from Under-17 are Hastings Banda, Hadji Wali, Francesco Madinga, Patrick Njolomole and Peter Banda.
Out of the 29, Hastings, Peter, Madinga, Pindani Azizi and Chimwemwe Idana are from lower leagues.
Kaputa said he has ordered a change in the selection process.
He said: “I have told the Under-20 technical panel to pick only 10 players from the 29 they have picked. The whole selection process will be revised. We want North, Central and South junior leagues to form select sides of 15 players each to play a select team of 15 players from this squad to select the ‘original’ Under-20 squad.”
On the players that are suspected of age cheating, Kaputa said he will check records to see if the players obtained new passports.
“According to the passports on the list they have given me, all the players are within the age limit. But we have records here of all players dating back to several years. I will cross check if the players have changed passports to falsify their ages. If they have, they will be kicked out,” he said.
FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda said he was aware of the issue, but said he was waiting for official report from Kaputa.
He also ruled out using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to verify the players’ ages.
“For under-17 the MRI scan works. But for the Under-20, it is not possible,” he said.
