By Mphatso Malidadi & Mabvuto Kambuwe:
Malawi National Football Team has started preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers without players from elite clubs due to the TNM Super League title race and crucial games in other competitions.
The team regrouped Sunday at Mpira Village in Blantyre ahead of matches against Liberia and Tunisia next month.
Coach Patrick Mabedi has called 16 players into camp for the opening week.
However, the list excludes players from teams that have crucial assignments including FCB Nyasa Bullets, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Silver Strikers.
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Former Bullets midfielder Rahim Ishmael said the arrangement was strange as the forthcoming games will fall on Fifa calendar day.
“It is not the best arrangement because you need all the players in camp,” Ishmael said.
Mabedi, who was confirmed as Flames coach on a two-year contract, has included Joseph Balakasi from Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar, Chifundo Ngonjera (Chisomo Academy) and Gabinho Daudi from Karonga United.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Competitions and Communication Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the players will be released every Thursday for club assignments for two weeks.
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“The technical panel will be working with the players for three days between Monday and Wednesday and then release them for club assignments. This will be done for two weeks and, during the final week, the team will assemble to travel to Liberia.
“Only players who do not have crucial club assignments will report for camp while other players earmarked for camp will join at a later stage once they are done with club engagements,” Zakazaka said.
The Flames, who are in Group H, will face Liberia away on November 17 before hosting Tunisia at Bingu National Stadium on November 21.
Mabedi was not readily available for his comment.
Sports analyst Parry Chinyama hailed the coach for selecting players on merit.
“There appears to be new blood in the team. He has brought new and inexperienced lads. My take is that he wants to build a new team for three to five years,” Chinyama said.
The following is the full squad for week one:
Goalkeepers: Innocent Nyasulu (Wakawaka Tigers FC), Austin Chirambo (FCB Nyasa Bullets Reserve)
Defenders: Mark Lameck (Blue Eagles FC), Dannie Chimbalanga (Mafco), Josephy Balakasi (Dedza Dynamos), Alex Kambilinya (Wakawaka Tigers FC), Chimwemwe Nkhoma (Mayamiko Stars), Yamikani Mologeni (Bangwe All Stars)
Midfielders: Robert Gomez Saizi (Bangwe All Stars), Chrispin Mapemba (FCB Nyasa Bullets Reserve), Chifundo Ngonjera (Chisomo Academy), Boniface Juma (Moyale Barracks), Bennie Manyozo (Wakawaka Tigers), Gabinho Daudi (Karonga United)
Strikers: Olson Kanjira (Kamuzu Barracks), Mwisho Youngson (Karonga United)
