Flames off to Cosafa Cup without camping
The Malawi National Football Team will this morning leave for the 2023 Cosafa Cup in Durban, South Africa without going into camp.
Flames interim coach Patrick Mabedi has lived up to his promise to pick up-and-coming players for the tournament to be held from July 5 to 16.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the team did not camp due to a congested calendar which saw their teams participating in TNM Super League and FDH Bank Cup games during the past week.
However, clubs that have contributed four or more players to the squad have vowed not to fulfil fixtures if they are not exempted.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) rules and regulations state that clubs that have contributed four or more players should be exempted from league fixtures.
Article 49 on National Representations and National Duty reads: “A club that contributes four or more players to the national team shall be exempted from fixtures unless the players are released by the national coach to take part in league matches.”
FCB Nyasa Bullets, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Silver Strikers have been affected having contributed at least four players each to the squad.
Wanderers are expected to face Mafco at Chitowe in Dwangwa, Nkhotakota while Silver will take on Extreme FC at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday.
Bullets are expected to hosts Blue Eagles at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday.
But Bullets chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda in an interview yesterday said they expect the Sulom rules and regulations to be respected.
He said: “What do the rules say? If they say that we should be exempted from fixtrues if we have contributed four or more players, then let them apply.”
Zakazaka yesterday said they expect Sulom to abide by its rules and regulations.
However, Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said the league runners and the football governing body agreed that this season only national team duty on Fifa sanctioned dates will affect the fixtures.
The Flames will start their campaign in Group B against defending champions Zambia’s Chipolopolo on Thursday at King Zwelithini.
Malawi will then take on Seychelles on July 9 at the same venue before wrapping up the pool stage against Comoros on July 11 at Chatsworth Stadium.
Last year, the Flames did not make it past the group stage after beating Mauritius, a draw with e-Swatini and a loss to Lesotho.
