Gastin faces 8-week injury lay off

Flames forward Gastin Simkonda will be sidelined for a further eight weeks following a road accident  that left him with an injured neck.

The Moyale striker confirmed this on Monday soon after being discharged from Beit Cure International Hospital in Blantyre where he was undergoing physiotherapy.

He has already missed two months of the new season in which his team has reached the Airtel Top 8 semifinals.

“The doctor said I will be out for eight weeks.  It’s a long period in football but I have accepted it,” he said.

His Moyale team-mates Chrispine Fukizi, Boy Boy Chima and Lovemore Mitengo sustained minor injuries during the accident in Mzimba in March.

Simkonda was admitted to Mzuzu Central Hospital for a couple of days. He described his recovery as steady.

“I thank God that I survived, which is the most important thing. The secondary thing is recovery,  which is going on smoothly and steadily,” said Simkonda, who is recuperating in Kanjedza, Blantyre.

If he recovers in eight weeks, he would be able to feature in the TNM Super League second round.

Moyale general secretary Captain Precious Gausi said he was pleased that Simkonda would return to action later this season.

“We know he would need time to be 100 percent fit even after those eight weeks. However,  it is good that he will not be out for ages,” he said.

Simkonda has been one of the outstanding players for Moyale and the national team in the past six years.

His best season was in 2014 when he won the Super League golden boot award after netting 17 times.