BB players join Flames camp

All the 11 Nyasa Big Bullets players have finally joined the Flames training camp ahead of this Saturday’s CAF Championship of African Nations’ (Chan) qualifier first-leg against e-Swatini (formerly Swaziland) in Mbabane.

The senior national football team regrouped last week, but the Bullets players were absent following their club’s decision that they would not be released until after their TNM Super League opener against TN Stars last weekend.

Flames team manager James Sangala yesterday said: “I can confirm that all Bullets players that were called up have joined national team camp and are ready for this morning’s [yesterday] training session.

“At present, it is only three Silver Strikers players [Brighton Munthali, Trevor Kalema and Levison Maganizo] that are remaining as they are travelling from Karonga where they had their Super League matches.”

Nevertheless, Flames coach Meke Mwase said the selection of the final squad will be based on the players’ performance in recent international and local games considering that three days are not enough to assess all the camping players.

“The good thing is that we do not have new faces in the squad and all the players know each other well. Therefore, their performance in recent games will do the magic on whether they should earn a place in the flight to Mbabane,” he said.

In spite of that, Mwase said performance in training will as well be of essence.

“We have no worries on the fitness levels of the players as they have been playing a number of pre-season and Super League games recently. The most important thing is to work on coordination,” he said.

Bullets have contributed goalkeepers Ernest Kakhobwe and Rabson Chiyenda; defenders John Lanjesi, Gomezgani Chirwa, Yamikani Fodya and Charles Petro; midfielders Mike Mkwate, Chimwemwe Idana and Peter Banda alongside strikers Chiukepo Msowoya and Patrick Phiri.