Brother fits into Bokosi’s boots at Red Lions

Red Lions have replaced 2015 TNM Super League joint top-scorer Innocent Bokosi with his younger brother Royal, who fitted into the free-scoring striker’s boots with a brace as the side beat Dwangwa United 2-0 in their 2018 opener on Saturday.

According to the Zomba-based Malawi Defence Force (MDF) outfit’s spokesperson Lieutenant Francis Chalulu, Innocent will not feature for the club this season as he is going for a peace- keeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“Innocent will be away on a peace-keeping mission and we have roped in his younger brother as his replacement. We are happy that Royal has already proved that he can fit into Innocent’s boots through a brace he scored last weekend,” he said.

Chalulu said Royal was introduced into the team as a winger but the technical panel has decided to shift him upfront due to his scoring abilities.

On his part, Royal, who is the current joint leading scorer in the topflight league along with Peter Wadabwa of Be Forward Wanderers and Blue Eagles’ John Malidadi Jnr, said he is happy to have been entrusted with the scoring job and he will do his best to help the team win the league title.

“The trust the team has bestowed on me has given me confidence to aim at reaching greater heights, especially winning the golden boot accolade,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chalulu said Chikoti Chirwa and Gibson Nkhonjera have also been tasked with MDF official duties in the DRC and they have been replaced by Pearson Panje and Steve Dube, who have just returned from a peace-keeping mission.

Veterans such as Malumbo Mkandawire and Kelvin Katema are also back with the team.