Zimbabwe Premier League giants Caps United’s second assistant coach Joseph Kamwendo has called for the return of the players who were kicked out of the Malawi National Football Team in 2024 on disciplinary grounds.
The players are defender Stanley Sanudi and attacking midfielder Chimwemwe Idana. Left winger Francisco Madinga has also been missing on the Flames call-up list on reasons that are yet to be known.
In March last year, Football Association of Malawi (Fam) summoned Sanudi and Idana over alleged indiscipline after the Flames’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Senegal in Bamako, Mali.
But despite the move, the duo has not been called for national duties since October 2024 after the Flames’ 4-0 defeat to Senegal.
Sanudi and Idana were accused of breaking protocols by storming into the Lions of Teranga’s dressing room to ask for superstar Sadio Mane’s jersey.
- Advertisement -
Kamwendo said Flames coach Kalisto Pasuwa should consider recalling them back into the team so that it benefits from their experience.
Speaking from his base in the Zimbabwean capital Harare Thursday, Kamwendo said the Flames still need the three players’ services.
The former Malawi captain said the Flames’ drop on the recent Fifa rankings and the poor performance at this year’s Mukuru 4 Nations tournament in Francistown, Botswana, is an indication of the team’s shortfalls.
“The Flames performed poorly at the Four Nations tournament. Finishing at the bottom of the competition is very unfortunate and pathetic for our football. If the status quo remains, the team has a huge task to qualify for the 2027 Afcon finals. I think this is the right time for us to come together and swallow our pride. Let us recall some of the players that are still capable of helping us.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
“I know Sanudi and Idana were suspended due to indiscipline but we cannot retire them at this stage. We still need them in the squad because of their experience. From what I have seen, there are some problems with player selection as well. Madinga is doing well in Zambia and he has been instrumental for the Flames when given a chance. But where is he now?” Kamwendo asked.
The trio was part of the Flames team that finished in the round-of-16 at the 2021 Afcon finals in Cameroon.
Fam Technical Sub-committee chairperson Christopher Kuyera said Pasuwa has the mandate of selecting players of his choice.
“Look, we can impose players on him,” Kuyera said.
Idana and Madinga compete for Zanaco and Kansanshi Dynamos in Zambia’s Super League, respectively, while Sanudi helped Mighty Wanderers to win the Super League title last season.
Fifa released the latest men’s rankings on Wednesday which saw the Flames dropping from position 126 to 127.
This came just two days after the Botswana tournament.
During the tournament, Malawi 8-9 to Zambia on post-match penalties after a barren stalemate in regulation time before losing 0-1 to hosts Botswana.
