Nomads in keeper crisis ahead of Carlsberg quarter-finals

A goalkeeper crisis is threatening defending champions Be Forward Wanderers’ Carlsberg Cup campaign as the Nomads are preparing to meet Prison United at Balaka Stadium tomorrow.

They only have one goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa following injuries of others Nenani Juwaya and Peter Munthali while Bester Phiri was deregistered due to an illness.

Even Chipuwa, who was also on injured players list, is not fully fit as he has been forced to skip his recovery period to man the post folowing the crisis.

The development has also prompted the Nomads to register goalkeeper trainer Vales Kamzere as substitute goalkeeper.

Assistant coach Elia Kananji said they have no choice, but use the goalkeeper trainer as substitute until the transfer window reopens.

“As for now, we will be using Chipuwa and Kamzere. We just pray that Chipuwa does not get injured as well because that would now be big trouble for us,” the assistant coach said.

Kananji also clarified the absence of Phiri.

“He has not been feeling well, so we thought we should give him time to recuperate. He will be back in second round,” said Kananji.

Meanwhile, Prison United are talking tough ahead of the quarter-final match.

Assistant coach Julius Magombo said they are not afraid of the Super League giants who have been in form in their cup defence campaign.

“In fact, we would have loved to play Wanderers at Kamuzu Stadium,” the assistant coach said after beating Zomba United in round of 16 last Sunday.

“Super League teams are easy to beat unlike our league counterparts,” he said.

Wanderers beat Kamuzu Barracks 2-0 on Wednesday at Kamuzu Stadium to become the last team to make it to the quarter-finals. n