Flames trio to miss Sierra Leone game
Mozambique-based Chimango Kayira, Schumacher Kuwali and John Banda will not feature during Malawi national football team’s training match against Sierra Leone on Tuesday due to club assignments.
The absence of the trio will deny the Flames coach, Ernest Mtawali, an opportunity to test all his charges ahead of Friday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Group L qualifier.
Flames team manager, Clement Kafwafwa, confirmed that the trio would travel straight to Guinea for the double header. Malawi host Guinea on March 29 at Kamuzu Stadium.
However, Kafwafwa said the bulk of the foreign legion would be available for the match in Sierra Leone with some of them joining the team while in transit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“The three players have crucial games with their respective clubs this weekend so they will join us in Guinea. Actually, they will arrive in the morning, whereas the rest of the team will arrive in the afternoon in Guinea,” Kafwafwa said.
Mtawali expects to have Robin Ngalande, Robert Ng’ambi, Limbikani Mzava, Gerald Phiri Jnr, Frank Gabadinho Mhango, Micium Mhone, Joseph Kamwendo and Charles Swini during the Seirra Leone game.
On Wednesday, the Flames tuned up against Mafco in Salima, where they won 1-0 through Chiukepo Msowoya’s goal. The team has also played practice matches against Be Forward Wanderers and Azam Tigers.
Football Association of Malawi general secretary, Suzgo Nyirenda, said the Flames would leave Kamuzu International Airport aboard Ethiopian Airlines and spend a night in Ethiopia on Sunday.
The Flames will then depart Ethiopia on Monday morning for Sierra Leone’s capital city, Freetown,for the warm-up match in the evening.
“The Flames will leave Sierra Leone at around 21:30 pm for Conakry, Guinea. They are expected to arrive in Guinea at around midnight,” he said.
The Flames are third in group L with one point at par with Guinea, whereas Zimbabwe lead with four points from two games followed by Swaziland with the same points from the same number of games.
Guinea coach, Luiz Fernandez, has named a strong squad with 14 European-based stars. Borussia Monchengladbach winger, Ibrahima Traore, has also returned to the squad.
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