Flames coach Young Chimodzi has resolved to place faith in home-based players only when facing Zambia’s Chipolopolo for a friendly at Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka on May 10.
With most foreign-based players in the twilight of their careers and their availability not guaranteed, Chimodzi is determined to build his squad, bound for next month’s 2015 Cosafa Cup in South Africa, around locals.
“It is only after the game against Zambia that we will patch up with some foreign based players. We will only determine who to call up to beef up after assessing our weaknesses in Zambia,” Chimodzi said yesterday.
Malawi starts the Cosafa Cup race with a quarter-final meeting against Mozambique on May 24 2015, four days after lining up against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a final warm-up. Next battles in June are for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the Chipolopolo coach Honor Janza has excused all his South Africa-based players, including goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene from the game against Malawi.
However, Janza has summoned his TP Mazembe quartet for the friendly although they will not be available for the Cosafa Cup.
Captain Rainford Kalaba, midfielder Given Singuluma and defender Kabaso Chongo are in the team, according to AfricanFootball magazine.
Midfielder Nathan Sinkala, whose six-month loan deal at Swiss club Grasshopper from Mazembe expired last December, has been recalled following his recent recovery from an injury he sustained on January 18 at the 2015 Africa Cup.
