Flames players anxiously wait for foreign opportunities

There have been no concrete offers for Flames players despite some of them attracting interest from foreign clubs and agents following their impressive performance at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Cameroon.

South Africa-based forward Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango, Georgia-based midfielder Fransisco Madinga, Silver Strikers goalkeeper Charles Thom, Civil Service United centre-back Lawrence Chaziya and Mighty Wanderers right-back Stanley Sanudi were the notable players who impressed foreign clubs and agents at the ongoing continental showpiece.

ProSport International, the South Africa-based agency that manages Mhango, yesterday said despite a number of enquiries, there has been nothing concrete yet.

Said the firm’s chief executive officer Mike Makaab: “Very encouraging performance from Gabadinho, but no official interest as yet.”

Mhango scored all the three goals for Malawi at the tournament and one of them, tournament and one of them,

against Morocco’s Atlas Lions in the round of 16, was pitted as a potential goal of the tournament by media outlets of international repute.

Mhango was also named man-of-the-match against Zimbabwe’s Warriors in which he claimed a brace.

Silver chief executive officer Thoko Chimbali also said there has been no official enquiry on Thom, who made an impressive debut against the continent’s top-ranked side Senegal’s Lions of Teranga with a five-star display which earned him the man-of-the-match accolade, overshadowing world-class stars such as Liverpool forward Sadio Mane and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouardo Mendy.

He also had a grand game against Morocco.

Madinga’s local representative Gift Mkandawire also said despite a number of enquiries on the player, there is still nothing concrete.

“Of course, there was an agent from Europe who suggested on whether it was possible for Madinga to terminate his contract with Dira Gori so that he can join a Russian top league side and be compensated in the excess of $30 000 [about K25 million], but again, nothing concrete yet,” said the Wanderers board member.

On reports that Madinga is on the radar of Austria’s top league side Salzburg, Mkandawire said: “Honestly, I am not aware of that. It could be that the two clubs are talking. I need to find out.”

Civo general secretary Ronald Chiwaula also said there is nothing concrete yet on towering defender Chaziya, who is reportedly earmarked for trials in England and South Africa.

But a striker when he’s banging in the goals, everybody takes notice. So I think Gaba will bounce back and we’ll see the real Mhango when he gets back to South Africa.”

He said when ProSport International brought Mhango to South Africa, they were optimistic he would make the grade.

“We always thought in our heart that he was a bit special and it’s just now up to him to convert that brilliance into consistency. He needs to work harder and he knows that,” said Makaab.

Mhango dazzled at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, scoring three goals in three matches, including a beauty against Morocco, which is being pitted as the potential goal of the tournament.

“Pirates have exercised his option so he will continue with them [until 2023]. What’s important without going into too much detail, is that I think he let himself down with his performances after such a fantastic previous season [2019/20 season],” Makaab told iDiski Times.

“He acknowledges that. He’s brave enough to. He’s man enough to acknowledge that, you can’t blame that club at all, Gaba knows, but he’s a quality player, he’s a really top-class player.

“Afcon has shown what a really good striker he is. It’s my belief, not hope, that this will be the catalyst for us to see what Gaba is really capable of doing and I think he can really grow from the fantastic season he had at Pirates previously.”

In an interview yesterday, Mhango said he will keep on working hard.

He said: “It’s encouraging and humbling that my manager has mantained faith in me.

“Every player thinks of a dream move to Europe and what I can say is that I will keep fighting. It’s all about having self-belief.”