|
|
|
|
| Sports |
| Chiefs finally nod on Mabedi |
|
by
Garry Chirwa, 01 October 2003
-
18:53:37
|
Flames’ uphill battle to upset the tables in the Cosafa Castle Cup second final leg against Zimbabwe’s Warriors, received a big boost Wednesday following the acceptance by South African crack side Kaizer Chiefs to release their tower of strength Patrick ‘General’ Mabedi for the showdown.
Chiefs’ team manager Bobby Motaung said in a telephone interview from Johannesburg Wednesday that his team will release Mabedi immediately after their Coca Cola Cup game against Santos in Cape Town on Saturday.
“When you mention Patrick, you are talking of Chiefs. We cannot play a crucial game without him and he has to be there on Saturday when we take on Santos.
“But we will definitely release him immediately after the game so that he can travel to Harare on Sunday morning to join the Malawi national team for the game against Zimbabwe,” said Motaung.
He added that Mabedi will also be allowed to feature for the Flames in next weekend’s World Cup preliminary first leg against Ethiopia because Chiefs will have a free weekend.
Motaung also said Zimbabwe’s blossoming midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha will also be released for Sunday’s explosive clash.
Fam spokesman George Kaudza Masina said the association was already making travel arrangements for the player.
“We are trying to see if he can depart Cape Town immediately after Chiefs’ game on Saturday so that he can connect to Harare the next morning. In fact we have already been in touch with the player himself,” said Kaudza Masina.
Coach Alan Gillett described the news as perfect tonic in the Flames’ quest to upset the Warriors in Zimbabwe.
“We greatly missed Patrick’s services in the first leg and to learn that he will be around in the second leg is very good news and obviously I am relieved,” said Gillett.
Mabedi, who was man-of-the-match in the semifinal game against Zambia’s Chipolopolo, missed the final’s first leg due to club commitments.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
