Gerald Phiri jnr silences Silver
Former Flames striker Russell Mwafulirwa fears that Gerald Phiri Jnr could be lost to Zimbabwe football if the national team selectors continue to ignore the Caps United Malawian attacking gem.
Mwafulirwa spoke highly about the 21-year-old after watching him score a double when Caps beat Silver Strikers 2-0 during a friendly match at Silver Stadium, where Flames coach Young Chimodzi was also in attendance,
“He has the height, confidence and accuracy of passing and shooting. He just needs a little bit of stamina. If not the Flames, he must, before we lose him, be drafted into the Under-23 national team. Remember, we lost former Silver player Jimmy Ukonde [now Mozambican],” Mwafulirwa said when he approached The Nation.
Chimodzi’s familiar comment is that the Flames door is open to all deserving players, but has not called up Phiri and other players holed in leagues of Mozambique and Botswana.
Contacted yesterday, Chimodzi said Phiri has potential, “he showed that with two good goals and we will consider him for a call up”.
Standing at over 1.8 metres, Phiri has a close ball-control and can play on either wing with ease, can dribble and is good at set pieces. However, a lack of power on the ball remains his weakness.
Caps United assistant coach Brenna Msiska, who was in charge of the weakened Caps, hailed Phiri, compatriots George Nyirenda, who was captain of the day, and Ishmael Thindwa.
Nyirenda said he felt there was no need to impress Chimodzi as he knows the defender’s quality whereas Phiri, who has been to Poland and South Africa for trials, was not interested in the Flames’ talk.
“I always play well. But playing well does not change anything for me in respect of the Flames, so I gave up,” said Phiri who used to form a deadly attacking combination with Frank Gabadinho Mhango at Brave Warriors of Blantyre in 2010.
“At Caps, we now have a new coach [Mark Harrsion] and I hope to score more goals as he is now featuring me in a more central attacking role. I will be playing on the wings once in a while.”
The ex-Epac striker Thindwa struggled during the match and was substituted. Caps face Big Bullets for a Zambezi Challenge Cup match this Wednesday at the same venue.
Chimodzi felt Thindwa was not more involved in the game whereas Nyirenda, the coach noted, controlled Caps defence.
