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Boost for flames

 

The Flames have received a boost ahead of their upcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier having been invited to take part in a six-nations tournament to be hosted by Morocco from August 31.

According to Football Association of Malawi (FAM) general secretary (GS) Alfred Gunda, the other participating NATIONS are Togo, Mauritania, Kenya, Niger and the hosts—who, coincidentally, are also in the same group with the Flames in the Afcon qualifiers.

Mzava: It will help us tune up for Afcon

He said the Flames’ participation has been secured through a Fifa/Uefa match agent.

“Our participation and travel to the tournament is fully-funded. For this reason, the Flames will start local camp training tomorrow [today].

“The coach Ronny van Geneugden [RVG] is expected to call up a full-strength squad comprising both local and foreign-based players” he said.

The FAM GS also said on Thursday players will be released to join their clubs for weekend fixtures.

“This is an opportune moment to build a strong team and to be active bearing in mind that the next Afcon qualifying matches are in March next year.

“The tournament will provide him an opportunity to try several combinations and tactics.”

He also expressed optimism that the foreign-based players will be released because the tournament will be played on Fifa calendar dates.

RVG could not be reached for comment, but Flames captain Limbikani ‘Pupa’ Mzava described the development as commendable.

“Usually, we lack such kind of preparations and, surely, the tournament will help us tune-up for Afcon qualifiers,” he said.

The Flames and Afcon hosts Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions are joint leaders in Group B with three points each having won their opening matches against Comoros and Morocco respectively, by 1-0 margins. n

 

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