Cosafa Cup postponed
Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) has announced the indefinite postponement of the 2024 Cosafa Cup.
Initially, the tournament was to be held from June 14 to 25.
However, last week Cosafa announced that it would shift the tournament to later dates in June or July.
But in a letter to member associations dated June 6 titled ‘Postponement of 2024 Cosafa Cup’, the regional football governing body says the competition has been postponed due to circumstances beyond its control.
The letter reads in part: “Please be advised that after discussions with various stakeholders and circumstances beyond our control, we are exploring dates for the 2024 Cosafa Cup. We will provide an update on the new dates in due course.
“We are aware of various challenges our different p a r t i c i p a t i n g m e m b e r assoc i a t i o n s a r e facing and participating member associations can be rest assured that new dates will be based on the best possible exposure for all stakeholders involved to ensure a world class competition.”
H o w e v e r, F o o t b a l l Association of Malawi c o m p e t i t i o n s a n d communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the Malawi under-23, which the association wants to participate at the tournament, will go ahead with preparations as announced.
The team went into a five-day camp yesterday at the Mpira Village in Chiwembe, Blantyre.
Zakazaka said they will take advantage of the international break to hold the camp.
“We would like the coaches to have at least some five days with the players. This is a Fifa window, and all players will be available which gives the coach an opportunity to see the group he will be working with.
He said: “The other camping sessions, as we go towards the competition, will be done using the normal three-day camping model of balancing club and national team’s activities.
“So, this is the only period that they will stay longer together and we thought it wise that it should be utilised as we wait for the Cosafa tournament official dates.”.
The team is being coached by FCB Nyasa Bullets gaffer Kallisto Pasuwa while Bob Mpinganjira and Pritchard Mwansa are first and second assistant coaches respectively.
Joseph Malizani is the team manager with Tawonga Chimodzi as data analyst.
Gladys Ngodo is the team doctor while former Flames international Fischer Kondowe is the fitness trainer.
