Saintfiet says no need to worry on camping
As time ticks on in the countdown to next month’s swim-or-sink 2014 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria, Flames coach Tom Saintfiet has said there is no need to worry about the issue of camping.
Saintfiet was responding to a question on when the Flames are likely to assemble in preparation for the Calabar showdown slated for September 7.
“I see no sense in having the team go into camp when over 10 players will be foreign-based players.
“If we are to go into camp then it should be around 1st September,” he said.
The coach also said battle-hardened forward Esau ‘Black Mamba’ Kanyenda has been ruled out due to injury.
“I would have loved to have Esau, but I don’t think he will be fit in time for the game, so too Zicco [Mkanda] who is also in the process of recovery,” said Saintfiet.
He also said the three players who missed the recent international friendly match against Rwanda’s Amabvubi due to travel documents complications—captain Joseph Kamwendo, Robert Ng’ambi and Foster Namwela— will be considered for selection.
“If their travel documents are in order, I will select them, but I am a coach and I do not deal in issues of players’ travel documents, it is an administrative issue,” he said.
The coach also assured that he will soon announce his squad for the Nigeria showdown.
The Flames, who trail the Super Eagles by two points, are second in Group F of the African qualifiers with seven points and need nothing short of a win to sail through to the final qualifying round.
