Chester out of Flames squad, to miss Carlsberg semis
Supremely-gifted Be Forward Wanderers midfielder Yamikani Chester has been left out of the Flames squad for the six-nations tournament to be staged in Morocco due to a toe injury.
He will also miss the Nomads’ Carlsberg Cup quarter-final showdown against Moyale Barracks this afternoon in Mzuzu.
Flames coach Ronny van Geneugden (RVG) and Wanderers team manager Stevie Madeira yesterday confirmed Chester’s injury.
Said RVG: “We would have loved to have him in the squad, he is a good player but, unfortunately, he has a swollen toe.”
On his part, Madeira said while they will miss Chester’s services, they have a steady replacement.
“It is a setback no doubt about that, but we are not losing our sleep because of the depth in class that we have,” he said.
Apparently, the Nomads will also be without their key holding midfielder Alfred Manyozo Jnr who is suspended for four games due to indiscipline and their ‘sniper’ Jaffalie Chande who will be serving a two yellow cards’ suspension.
Meanwhile, RVG has named three uncapped players in the 20-member squad for the six-nations showpiece which is expected to kick off on Wednesday.
Civo United trio of defenders Gomezgani Chirwa, midfielder Righteous Banda and striker Fletcher Bandawe have made the squad which also includes nine foreign-based players.
The nine are goalkeeper Charles Swine, defender Limbikani ‘Pupa’ Mzava, midfielders Robert Ng’ambi, Gerald Phiri Jnr, Dalitso Sailesi, John and Frank Banda; strikers Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango and Richard Mbulu.
The Flames are expected to depart for Morocco on Tuesday. The other participating teams at the tournament are hosts Morocco, Togo, Niger, Kenya and Mauritania.
The following is the full squad: Goalkeepers: Swine and Kakhobwe; Defenders: Peter Cholopi, Dennis Chembezi, Mzava (C), Stanley Sanudi, Chirwa and Yamikani Fodya; Midfielders: Righteous Banda, Simeon Singa, Ng’ambi, Sailesi, Frank and John Banda, Phiri Jnr and Chikoti Chirwa; Strikers: Gabadinho, Mbulu, Jabulani Linje and Bandawe. n
