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Kanyenda touts Nyondo as successor

Veteran striker Esau Kanyenda, who scored his second goal on Sunday in the last three Flames outings, has touted Atusaye Nyondo as his possible replacement in the national team.

The Nation had asked the Polokwane City forward, who is advanced in football age, to identify a striker he thinks can step in his boots upon retiring.

Kanyenda (L): Has tipped Nyondo to fill his boots opponent  in an Afcon qualifier last year
Kanyenda (L): Has tipped Nyondo to fill his boots
opponent
in an Afcon qualifier last year

Strikers in their late 30s such as Kanyenda are considered to be  in their swansong, a development that forces Flames coach Young Chimodzi to find a successor.

Since being recalled last November, Kanyenda has scored against Mali (2015 Afcon qualifier) and Tanzania on Sunday in a 2015 Cosafa Cup warm up match.

“I don’t feel any pressure. I feel the same as I was two years ago. Hard work is paying off for me. As for my replacement, I haven’t watched most of the local players, but I think Atusaye is maturing well as a player,” Kanyenda said.

He then gave a candid analysis of one Flames’ weakness which is inability to put away  chances. “When we score as we did in Tanzania, you need to add more. When you score and relax, you get punished. We haven’t been winning away from home, so we need to change that as soon as possible,” Kanyenda explained.

Nyondo, who is the leading Malawian scorer in South Africa premiership this season on six goals, missed the trip to Tanzania through injury. The University of Pretoria forward Nyondo scored two goals for the Flames in as many matches last year.

 

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