Flames coach rings changes
Flames interim coach Patrick ‘General’ Mabedi has included eight uncapped players in the Flames’ 25-member squad for the Cosafa Cup scheduled to kick off today in Durban South Afrca.
The eight are goalkeepers Austin Chirambo of FCB Nyasa Bullets Reserves and Mighty WakaWaka Tigers’ Innocent Nyasulu, defender McDonald Lameck of Blue Eagles, midfielders Blessings Singini of Ekwendeni Hammers, Bangwe All Stars’ Robert Saizi, Chikondi Kamanga and Patrick Macheso of Silver Strikers and Chrispine Mapemba of Bullets Reserves .
The move is a departure from Mabedi’s predecessors who selected full-strength squads for the regional developmental showpiece.
The former Flames, Kaizer Chiefs and Bullets captain has only maintained four players from the squad that participated in last year’s tournament. These are defenders Stanley Sanudi and Dan Chimbalanga and midfielders Chimwemwe Idana and Patrick Mwaungulu.
Mabedi has only included two foreign-based players, strikers Chawanangwa Kaonga and Chifundo Mphasi.
While the Flames gaffer could not be reached for comment, he recently said his emphasis is on building for the future.
Commenting on the squad, football pundit Kevin Moyo said: “It is clear that this is the squad for the future, the only challenge though is that if Mabedi is not offered a long-term deal, it will mean the end of the project before it even starts.”
Football Association of Malawi general secretary Alfred Gunda said while they have not set any targets for the team, they expect the Flames to compete favourably.
He said: “The tournament should also offer the players a chance to prove their worth and be spotted by scouts. Winning is a bigger picture, but priority should be to grow the players.”
The Flames will start their Group B campaign tomorrow against defending champions Zambia’s Chipolopolo at King Zwelithini Stadium before lining up against Seychelles on Sunday.
Their last group fixture will be against Comoros two days later at Chatsworth Stadium.
This will be Malawi’s 22nd attempt to win the regional tournament which was launched in 1997. They have only been in the finals twice in 2002 and 2003.
The full list of players is as follows: Goalkeepers: Brightone Munthali, Chirambo and Nyasulu; Defenders: Lameck, Dennis Chembezi, , Chimbalanga, Lawrence Chaziya, Sanudi and Nickson Mwase; Midfielders: Alick Lungu, Frank Willard, Mwaungulu, Singini, Chikumbutso Salima, Saizi, Idana, Kamanga, Macheso and Mapemba; Strikers: Kaonga, Mphasi, Christopher Kumwembe, Gaddie Chirwa and Lanjesi Nkhoma.
