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31 called up for Nigeria
By
Garry Chirwa - 20-01-2003 |
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The Flames coaching panel has called up a 31-man squad, which includes retired battle-scarred South Africa-based players Patrick ‘General’ Mabedi and John Maduka, in preparation for the vital Africa Nations Cup Group A qualifier against continental heavyweights Nigeria’s Super Eagles on March 29.
The squad is expected to start nonresidential training on Tuesday in Lilongwe and Blantyre under members of the coaching panel Eddie Ng’onamo, Gilbert Chirwa and John Kaputa before going into camp on February 3.
Fam general secretary Chris Kamphinda Banda said on Monday the association needs a whopping K28 million for Flames’ preparations and participation in the elite continental showpiece.
“At the moment we have raised nothing but we are appealing to the general public to offer their assistance be it in cash or kind. For example a company can come up with an offer to pay for the team’s accommodation or may be an individual can offer his minibus to ferry the players to and from training, and so on and so forth,” said Kamphinda Banda.
The Fam chief executive also said so far the association has received no response from the several associations that it has approached for friendly games.
“We have written several associations and when we get responses that’s when we’ll choose which teams to line up against.”
But didn’t the general secretary think the association was facing a race against time in the countdown to the tough assignment against the Super Eagles?
“We are keeping our fingers crossed that there should be positive responses especially from the major forces like Senegal, Algeria, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, Zambia and even Cameroon,” he added.
Commenting on the surprise inclusion of Mabedi and Maduka, Kamphinda Banda said that Fam’s technical committee was absolutely certain that both players will change their mind on quitting the Flames before the crucial tie.
“We still insist that there was no official communication from the two senior players to the effect that they had retired. Our understanding is that they are still part of the team and we will have a serious talk with them to clear the air regarding the misunderstanding that was there,” Kamphinda Banda said.
Mabedi, who has regained his good old form with South Africa’s glamour boys Kaizer Chiefs, said in a telephone interview from Johannesburg that he was surprised with the call-up.
“I have not shut the door completely for Fam, but why is it that they are shying away from meeting us? I am ready to rescind my decision but I still insist that it will be on condition that we should sort out the differences that were there and the sooner the better, otherwise I am not ready to show up,” said Mabedi.
The two players retired from the Flames immediately after the second leg of the Cosafa Castle Cup final match against South Africa allegedly after being insulted by a top Fam official.
Apart from Mabedi and Maduka, all the other foreign-based players namely Europe-bound star forward Essau Kanyenda, Germany-based Dan Chitsulo, gangling forward Russell Mwafulirwa — who has just signed for South Africa’s Jomo Cosmos — and stocky forward Steve Bakali have also been recalled.
The notable new faces in the squad include current Chibuku Super League top scorer Ganizani ‘M’bobo’ Malunga, who plays for Big Bullets, and teammate defender Petrus Mwalweni. Blossoming midfielders Robert ‘Baggio’ Ng’ambi, Rahim Ishmail and Lawrence ‘Tico-Tico’ Majawa, who turn out for MDC United, Bullets and MTL Wanderers, respectively, have also been called.
Veteran goalkeeper Navigator Dzinkambani, who was dropped from the squad that travelled to South Africa for the second leg of the Cosafa Castle Cup against South Africa last September, has been recalled. Red Lions’ highly gifted midfielder Wilfred Nyalugwe has also been recalled after an almost two-year absence from the squad.
Following is the full squad: Goalkeepers: Phillip Nyasulu, Navigator Dzinkambani and Swadick Sanudi; Defenders: Lackson Mtambo, Clement Kafwafwa, Maupo Msowoya, Itai Nundwe, Shabba Phiri, Joseph Gatros, Peter Mponda, Patrick Mabedi, Patrick Mangani and Petrus Mwalweni; Midfielders: John Maduka, Fischer Kondowe, McDonald Yobe, Robert Ng’ambi, Peter Mgangira, Sherry Msuku, Pritchard Mwansa, Wilfred Nyalugwe, Lawrence Majawa and Dan Chitsulo; Strikers: Steve Bakali, Victor Phiri, Grant Lungu, Mapopa Musukwa, Essau Kanyenda, Ganizani Malunga, Russell Mwafulirwa
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