Bullets duo in Flames provisional squad
Flames coach Young Chimodzi has drafted Big Bullets’ Sankhani Mkandawire and Tizgobele Kumwenda in the national football team’s provisional 25-member squad for July 6 Independence Celebrations match against Mozambique’s Mambas at Kamuzu Stadium.
The hard-tackling Mkandawire returns after debuting in 2010 whereas striker Kumwenda has received his first call-up. Returning to the fold are Moyale Barracks goalkeeper McDonald Harawa, Mafco defender Zasha Mnon’goneza and new comers Paul Ndhlovu (Mafco) and Red Lions’ Lottie Mwakasulu.
Civo United have also contributed striker Nelson Kangunje whereas Kalisto Kalinda and Richard Mbulu from Mafco are also back in the mix alongside usual Gastin Simukonda (Moyale Barracks) and new comer Kelvin Hanganda from Kamuzu Barracks.
Conspicuously missing in the squad are Silver Strikers’ Rodrick Gonani and Green Harawa who is undergoing trials at Township Rollers in Botswana. Big Bullets goalkeeper Vincent Gona has also not made the squad.
The players will report for camp at the Chiwembe Technical Centre this Sunday with Chimodzi stressing that he will go for fighters. Malawi travels to Uganda on July 14, en-route for Benin for a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. However, Chimodzi has defended the exclusion of the flagship Super League leading scorer Kumbukani Mwambene.
Chimodzi said: “We haven’t seen much of him although we have heard much about him. So, we’ll continue to assess him.
“In fact, we did call him not long ago, but he could not make the grade.”
Mwambene leads the scorers chart with nine goals, his latest feat came last Sunday when he was the centrepiece of Red Lions’ 5-2 demolition of defending champions Silver Strikers with five goals.
Provisional Flames squad:
Goalkeepers
1. Charles Swini- Silver Strikers
2. Richard Chipuwa- Mighty Wanderers
3. Vincent Gona- Big Bullets
4. Mc Donald Harawa-Moyale Barracks
Defenders
5. Lucky Malata- Silver Strikers
6. John Lanjesi- Civo United
7. Francis Mulimbika- Mighty Wanderers
8. Bashir Maunde- Big Bullets
9. Sankhani Mkandawire-Big Bullets
10. Pilirani Makupe- Kamuzu Barracks
11. Zasha Mnon’ goneza- Mafco
12. Paul Ndhlovu- Mafco- Mafco
13. Lottie Mwakasulu-Red Lions
Midfielders
14. Phillip Masiye- Blue Eagles
15. John Banda- Blue Eagles
16. Micium Mhone- Blue Eagles
17. Ndaziona Chatsalira- Silver Strikers
18. Frank Banda- Silver Strikers
19. Young Chimodzi Jnr- Silver Strikers
20. Nelson Kangunje-Civo United
Strikers
21. Calisto Kalinda- Mafco
22. Richard Mbulu-Mafco
23. Gastin Simukonda- Moyale
24. Kelvin Hanganda-Kamuzu Barracks
25. Tizgowele Kumwenda- Big Bullets.
