Chimodzi breaks through in Greece
Flames forgotten midfielder Tawonga Chimodzi is going places in Europe after penning a two-year contract with Greece Super League side Athlitikos Omilos Platania Chanion (AO Platanias).
With pomp and fanfare, Platanias chairperson Manolis Mathioulakis unveiled the son to former Flames coach Young Chimodzi on Monday after signing him from second-tier Greece outfit Iraklis Psachna as a free agent, announced the club’s website.
“It is an honour to fight in the colours of Platanias. After two years in the Greece Football League I made an important step by joining a Super League team. Platanias are a good team and I think I can offer them a lot. I look forward to good cooperation with colleagues and achieve common goals,” Chimodzi is quoted as saying on www.fcplatanias.gr.
In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, the 26-year-old was philosophical when confirming his move from Psachna as a free agent. The Greece league boasts some top players such as Michael Essien who has signed for Panathinaikos.
“It’s okay for me; just another environment to do the same work. The excitement will always be there when the work is a success every day,” the former Silver Strikers player said when asked about his reaction. Russell Mwafulirwa was the last Malawian to grace top European league after ending his stay at IFK Norrkoping in 2012.
Standing at 1.85 metres, Chimodzi moved to Greece in 2013 from Engen Santos in South Africa where he signed from Silver Strikers in 2007. Chimodzi was, in his last Flames call-up in 2013, an unused substitute in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in Nigeria. The Greece league starts in August with pre-season on July 3.
Flames caretaker coach Ernest Mtawali yesterday said the exploits of Chimodzi prove that there are many Malawian players in foreign leagues such that he would, if given a choice, personally travel to monitor them.
“It’s important to watch teams playing at home and away, watch training sessions and premier division games. These are things I can do if given the job permanently. For Tawonga, it’s not easy to play in Europe. The Greek league is very tough. Signing for the top team shows that Tawonga has made his mark there,” said Mtawali whose mandate is for the July 6 game against Uganda.
Tawonga’s father said he was happy for his son and hoped that he will realise his dream of playing for a top team in Europe.
Nicknamed Red Shamrock, Platanias were founded in 1931 and are based in city of Chania. Their base is 4 000-seater Perivolia Municipal Stadium. Mathioulakis is among the owners alongside Stelios Varouxakis and Manolis Antonis Kokolodimitrakis. The team manager is Georgios Paraschos.
Platanias finished ninth in the 20-member league last season. The club employs African players such as goalkeeper Banana Yaya, Kevin Olimpa, Ousmane Coulibaly, Bernard Onanga Itoua and Emiljano Shehu.
