Out of sight and seemingly out of mind, Chiukepo Msowoya, once the hottest football property for club and Flames, personifies football’s cruel side.
It is unthinkable that the former Orlando Pirates and Rwanda’s APR striker, whose goals propelled the Flames to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finals, cannot even make the current squad.
In an exclusive interview yesterday from Maputo, Mozambique where he plays for Costa do Sol, Msowoya cautioned current hot strikers such as Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango to keep their feet on the ground.
“I wish strikers such as Atusaye Nyondo and Gaba well. My message is that asakomedwe (they must not get carried away with stardom) because in football in every single day things change for the better and for the worse,” the former Escom United forward said.
After his release by Pirates, Msowoya rejoined Escom United in 2012, then secured a move to Maxaquene in Mozambique before signing for Costa do Sol.
He previously played for Liga Muculmana who sold him to Pirates where he struggled before being released.
His meteoric rise to the Flames was so instant in the same manner Gaba is making names, including being voted Players’ Player of the Year and top scorer at Bloemfontein Celtic.
“I am not the same person. Obviously, with time, I am more mature. I have learnt from my past. I will catch up and be where I belong at the top. I accept that in life sometimes you can be forgotten,” Msowoya, who was Cecafa Club Championship top scorer with APR, explained.
The former Malawi Player of the Year insists he is finding his way to form at Costa do Sol, having scored twice in six league games this season and once in cups.
He plays alongside Flames captain Moses Chavula and Chimango Kayira; team mates Msowoya said were ‘pushing him to work harder’.
“Chiukepo is one of the best strikers in the country. We play together at Costa. He is working hard to get back to his form. Look, he is still young. I always encourage him not to feel down when he is not part of Flames and I believe he will bounce back because it is normal. Players lose form sometimes,” Chavula said through Facebook interview from Tanzania yesterday. Gaba could not be reached for comment.
Flames deputy coach Jack Chamangwana said recently that the door to the national team will always be open to players who are in form.
