Mozambican dying for Flames switch

He claims to be good. Those who have watched Rashid Ashabo Tsogolani play for Mozambique giants Maxaquene say he is a decent playmaker with an eye for goals and an uncanny ability to play on either flanks.

And in what might revive, Tsogolani the player for Maputo giants Maxaquene, born from Malawian parents, but holds Mozambique citizenship, has made a ‘come-and-pick-me’ plea to the Flames selectors.

“I came here at seven and my father processed all Mozambican citizenship papers, but I am Malawian and I would love to be considered for Flames trials,” he explained in vernacular Chichewa during an exclusive interview.

The Simplex Nthala team mate said the more he has received the Mambas’ calls ups, the more he has become uncomfortable at the thought of having to eventually play for them and is willing to change citizenships.

Tsogolani, 24, is yet to play for the Mambas, but has featured for Mozambique Under-23. This season, he has played in all five Maxaquene’s league outings and scored once. Nthala vouched for Tsogolani as good enough to add value to the Flames.

“My home of origin is Mlanda in Ntcheu where I was born and lived with my mum and aunt while my dad was based here [Mozambique]. He eventually came to pick me up from Malawi. I have since played for top teams such as Liga Muculmana. You can verify my quality with JK (Joseph Kamwendo), who was my team mate,” he claimed.

Another Mozambique-based Malawian footballer Dangalira Mnelemba of HCB in Tete recently also pleaded with Flames coach Young Chimodzi for a chance to undergo trials with the Flames. Mnelemba left Malawi some years ago as a Big Bullets youth team player and maintains Malawi citizenship.

FAM transfer matching system manager Casper Jangale on Wednesday said while they welcomed unknown quality players in foreign land, the association’s hands were tied by Malawi’s dual citizenship restrictions.

“An Act of Parliament may make provision for the acquisition or loss of citizenship of Malawi by any person after the appointed day….loss of citizenship includes loss by deprivation, renunciation or any other means prescribed by an Act of Parliament,” reads subsection 3 (b).

Fifa allows players who have played for other national teams at the junior level to switch teams, but with strings attached.

Jangale quoted Fifa’s article 17 on acquisition of a new nationality stating that such players must fulfil preconditions such as:

(a) He was born on the territory of the relevant Association;

(b) His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant Association;

(c) His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant Association;

(d) He has lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 on the territory of the relevant Association.

(e) He has lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 on the territory of the relevant Association.

The regulation also permits a player to represent one country at youth international level and another at senior international level, provided that the player applied before their 21st birthday.

“There is a process that both FAM and the player has to follow and an application has to be made to Fifa based on what I have earlier said,” said Jangale, citing the case of Sheola Ameobi of Newcastle who switched to Nigeria at 30 despite having represented England Under-21.

Malawi has never had luck with foreign based players of Malawi descent. South Africa-based Khama Billiati, Benjan Mwaruwari, Gilbert Mapemba play for Zimbabwe but were born from Malawian parents and chickened out on renouncing Zimbabwe citizenship. The same was the case with Malawi born Tamika Mkandawire of England and late Phumlani Dindi of South Africa.

State President Joyce Banda on last year’s trip to the United States called for debate on the dual citizenship law after being approached by Malawians in diaspora.