Flames caretaker coach Eddinton Ng’onamo has said this today’s international friendly match against Mozambique’s Mambas will provide his charges a chance to prove if they deserve a place in the squad that will take part in the Cosafa Cup in Lusaka, Zambia.
The Flames host Mozambique at Civo Stadium in the capital as part of the 49th Independence Anniversary Celebrations.
Ng’onamo said apart from the significance of the occasion, the match will also help the Flames tune up for next Saturday’s Cosafa Cup quarter-final match against defending champions Zimbabwe’s Warriors.
He also said apart from defender Lucky Malata and strikers Gabadinho Mhango and Gastin Simkonda, who are on trials in South Africa, all the other players that were called up, are available for selection.
Among the regulars in the squad are stand-in captain Fischer Kondowe, Dave Banda, Frank Banda, Chimango Kayira, Bongani Kaipa, Charles Swini and Young Chimodzi Jnr.
The Mambas were expected to arrive yesterday afternoon and, according to a Mozambique-based players’ agent James Nelito-Pondomale, they have assembled a strong squad of local players.
Some of the players are Josemar, Mamade Hadji, Sonito and Zainadine Junior who play in the same team with Joseph Kamwendo, Simplex Nthala and Zicco Mkanda at Maculmana.
There will also be an international netball match between the Queens and Zambia.
Queens captain Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira said they are expecting a tough game because Zambia have made tremendous improvement as evidenced at the recent Africa Netball Associations (ANA) Championship in Blantyre.
