Date Of Article: 3/24/2003
To Print This Story Goto File > Print
<<Back
Eagles sneak in
By: Leonard Sharra
Officials from Football Association of Malawi, (Fam) were Sunday caught unawares by the arrival of a 19-man Nigerian national football squad, which is expected to line up against Malawi’s Flames in a crucial Nations Cup tie at Chichiri Stadium on Saturday. Fam executive member George Kaudza Masina said in a telephone interview from Blantyre that he got a call from an immigration officer at around noon, informing him that the Eagles were stranded at the Lilongwe International Airport. “I informed the president (John Zingale) and the general secretary (Kamphinda Banda) who got in touch with the treasurer (Hubert Mfune), who was already in Lilongwe for the Flames/All Stars Select clash,” said Kaudza Masina. “Both the president and the GS were surprised at the visitors coming. Fam was expecting them in on Tuesday and they had been booked at Mount Soche Hotel.” Mfune confirmed the Eagles’ arrival in another interview. “Yes, I went to the airport to (clear) the Nigerians. They will be flying to Blantyre at 5 pm and the rest of the arrangements will be done there. My job was only to sort out their visa and travel issues,” said Mfune. According to Mfune, there were 12 officials and seven players in the squad that arrived. I am told 12 professionals will be coming on Wednesday,” said Mfune. From what the Fam treasurer had gathered, there were only two professionals amongst the seven players that had arrived. But why did the Nigerians arrive two days in advance, having indicated they would jet in four days before the game. “From what they told me, they were supposed to camp in Kenya but when they arrived there they found all the flights to Malawi fully booked,” said Mfune. Efforts to obtain the list of players and officials who arrived proved futile. According to Mfune, the visitors had only booked their flight up to Lilongwe. The Flames had planned to meet Zambia’s Chipolopolo but the game failed because of communication problems between Fam and Football Association of Zambia officials.
<<Back
© 2001-2002 Nation Publications Limited, All Rights Reserved