Chimango Kayira scores against Orlando Pirates

Flames midfielder Chimango Kayira was on target on Wednesday when his Mozambican club Costa do Sol lost 2-1 to hosts Orlando Pirates in a friendly match.

According to Supersport.com, the former Big Bullets star equalised in the first half of the game which was played behind closed doors at the Rand Stadium. Kermit Erasmus opened the scoresheet for the South African Premier Soccer League outfit early in the first-half while Joseph Molangoane notched the winner in the second segment.

After the game, Kayira wrote on his Facebook wall: “Akanapanda Yehova kukhala thandizo langa…”

This was Costa do Sol’s first pre-season match against South African clubs.

Apart from Chimango, Costa do Sol have two other Flames stars Moses Chavula and Jimmy Zakazaka. The Mozambican club is camping in Nelspruit.

Another Mozambican side Maxaquene, who have roped in Flames goalkeeper Simplex Nthala, are also in pre-season training in South Africa. They are in Johannesburg, where they have since drawn 3-3 and 1-1 against Moroka Swallows and Angolan side InterClube respectively. They lost 3-1 to BidVest Wits University.

After their games, Supersport.com quoted Nthala as saying: “It is a good experience playing the top South African teams. Hopefully, this experience can help when we get back to our base. Our final game in South Africa will be against Orlando Pirates and we are looking forward to it.”

Mozambique has now surpassed South Africa as the biggest importer of Malawian footballers with close to 20 players including Chiukepo Msowoya, Sankhani Nyirenda and Emmanuel Chipatala playing in the Macombola league.