Ronny van Geneugden backs youthful players
Malawi’s Flames Coach, Ronny van Geneugden (RVG), has defended his call-up of inexperienced players into the national team pre-camp training, saying age is irrelevant in his selection policy.
The Coach commented on his inclusion of inexperienced and under-20 players—such as Levison Maganizo, Mark Fodya, Peter Banda, Chimwemwe Idana and Charles Thom—in the camp which wound up Thursday.
“The guys have proven to be good technically. The arrangement was done deliberately to give a chance to the under-20 players to have confidence and gain experience so that next time they graduate into the senior team, we shouldn’t have problems.
“So, this will be done now and then. In the next call-ups, we will not mind age or the team a player is playing [for]. [It does not matter] whether [one is] from Division One, Premier Division, Super League, provided they have skills,” the Belgian coach said.
Idana of Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve Thursday said he was happy to be called up into camp.
“The call-up has really given me confidence that I have a good future. Even if I am not taken on board into the senior team, my performance at club level would certainly improve with the new skills which I have acquired here. I will also work hard considering that I stand another chance of being invited to the senior team in future if I maintain the standards,” the midfielder said.
Griffin Young Stars striker, Banda, said the call-up had given him exposure.
“More teams need my services, but I will be ready next year. This will, therefore, expose me more to the teams so that, by next year, more teams should be chasing after my signature,” he said.
The Flames are expected to meet Tanzania in a friendly match next week without key defender Limbikani Mzava, who is injured.
Van Geneugden admitted that the absence of Mzava would affect the team.
“It is good that the injury has come when we are playing friendlies. Hopefully, by next March, he would either be fit or we would have groomed other players to replace him. Otherwise, he is a leader and good captain for the team,” he said.
The Flames are expected to regroup next Tuesday.
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