|
|
|
|
| Sports |
| Flames preparations disjointed—coach |
|
by
Garry Chirwa, 03 June 2004
-
19:32:07
|
Flames’ coaching panel on Thursday took it on the chin admitting that preparations for Saturday’s uphill World Cup qualifier against Morocco’s Atlas Lions have been disjointed because of Bakili Bullets’ international engagements, late arrival of foreign-based players and the on-and-off availability of the coaches themselves.
The coaching panel’s spokesman John Kaputa said on Thursday that three foreign-based stars defender Patrick ‘General’ Mabedi, battle-scarred midfielder Ernest ‘Wire’ Mtawali and gangling forward Russell Mwafulirwa only joined the rest of the squad on Thursday upon its return from Kamuzu Academy in Kasungu while Bullets players have also been off and on due to their Caf Champions League engagements.
“Apart from that, every now and then my colleagues Kinnah Phiri and Dave Mpesi had to attend to their club commitments and unfortunately just a few days ago, Kinnah was involved in a serious car accident that kept him off as well.
“So I would say our preparations have been somehow disjointed and coordination is very minimal,” said Kaputa.
But Kaputa said the Flames are set for Saturday’s combat against Atlas Lions from North Africa.
“The good thing is that all the foreign players—Ernest, Patrick, Essau (Kanyenda) and Russell are fit and well experienced, the same applies with Bullets players like Peter Mponda, Maupo Msowoya, Swadick Sanudi and Fischer Kondowe, they too have lots of experience and they have had a lot of exposure from the recent international games.
“What remains now is coordination, we have had very little time to put them together but we will make the best out of the time left to choose the best 11 which of course will be done on merit,” said Kaputa immediately after Thursday morning’s training session at Chichiri Stadium.
Asked if the team is in a cold sweat with the news that the Atlas Lions are bringing their full-strength squad which includes their European-based sophisticates, Kaputa, appearing cool and easy said: “No! not at all, they can bring as many internationals as they can, they can even bring some from another planet, we will not be moved. By the time they come here we will be ready for them.”
The coaching panel has since come up with the 22-man squad for the encounter and five players namely goalkeeper Jafari Saizi, midfielders Robert Ng’ambi, Emmanuel Chipatala and Victor Phiri and striker Noel Mkandawire have since been sent back home.
Team doctor Mathews Mangondo said Ng’ambi and Chipatala have been left out due to recurring injuries.
The Flames arrived from Kasungu where they had been camping on Wednesday evening and are camping at Superior Hotel while the Moroccans are expected in the country on Friday morning.
Following is the squad for the game: Goalkeepers: Swadick Sanudi and Phillip Nyasulu; Defenders: Patrick Mabedi, Peter Mponda, Maupo Msowoya, Allan Kamanga, Itai Nundwe, Lackson Mtambo and Mike Kumanga; Midfielders: Ernest Mtawali, Fischer Kondowe, Joseph Kamwendo, Hellings Mwakasungula, Moses Chavula, Maxwell Chirwa, Joseph Chilapondwa and Pritchard Mwansa; Strikers: Essau Kanyenda, Russell Mwafulirwa, Heston Munthali and Jimmy Zakazaka
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
