Injured Ngalande, Kaliati dropped
Robin Ngalande and Isaac ‘Tcheya’ Kaliati are the notable faces dropped from the Flames squad for next weekend’s 2018 Championship of African Nations (Chan) qualifier against Madagascar.
Blossoming midfielder Rafiq Namwera and upcoming striker Binwell Katinji, who scored a double for Malawi in the two-all draw against a Chinese club Guangzhou R&F, have also been left out of new Belgian coach Ronny van Geneugden’s final squad.
The others are Stevie Chagoma, Mike Kaziputa and Ben Mbewe.
The notable new faces that have made the final squad are Simeon Singa (PremierBet Wizards), Kelvin Hanganda, Manaseh Chiyesa and Pempho Kansichili.
In a brief interview with The Nation yesterday, van Geneugden said he was happy with the level of commitment on the part of the players.
“They are talented and have shown a lot of commitment,” he said.
Kaliati has been dropped because he is ineligible after signing a contract with South Africa Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Cape Town Stars since Chan is for local players only.
However, team manager Peter Mponda said Ngalande has been dropped because he is injured.
“The coach was happy with his touches and workrate, but we established he had an injury that was somehow affecting his performance although he didn’t mention it. But we could easily see it.
“So, it is not something to do with his performance, but rather his physical condition,” he said.
Ngalande said he was disappointed to miss the trip.
“I pulled muscles last week. I thought I would get better, but it never happened,” he said.
Ngalande scored when the Flames on Wednesday beat Nchalo United 3-1 in a training match. The KB duo of Chiyesa and Hang’anda scored the other two goals each.
The Flames are scheduled to depart this Sunday for Madagascar.
They will pass through Kenya where they will play Harambee Stars in a friendly match in Nairobi.
The preliminary qualifier against Madagascar will be played on April 22 at Stade Municipal de Mahamasina in the island’s capital, Antananarivo.
The return leg is on April 29 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
The winner will play Mozambique in the second round in June.
If Malawi proceeds to the last round, they will play the winner between Mauritius/Seychelles and Angola.
