Flames striker Chiukepo Msowoya says he is looking forward to ending his two-year goal drought for the national team at the Cecafa Tusker Senior Challenge Cup in Uganda.
Msowoya has not scored a goal for the Flames since his superb strike against Tunisia in a 2-all draw in the 2012 Afcon qualifier in September 2010.
The once deadly Flames hitman leaves today (Sunday) for Uganda alongside five other players who were left behind in order to play for their respective clubs in the Carlsberg Cup semi-final matches on Saturday.
In an interview in the past week, Chiukepo said he is looking forward to leaving a mark at the competition.
“This will be my first time to play at the Cecafa tournament and I am looking forward to a good performance. It is an event that is very important for the team as it gives the home-based players an opportunity for international exposure.
“My target is to score as many goals as possible at the tournament. It is now two years since I scored for the Flames and that is not good for my record,” he said.
Chiukepo, who has rejoined Escom United after terminating his contract with South Africa PSL side Orlando Pirates, said the tournament can help him get another foreign team.
“I am back home to revive my career and things are looking good at Escom where so far I have scored four goals in five matches. Now, I want to translate that to the national team. This event is big as it attracts a lot of attention with TV coverage. Teams and agents will be following it with keen interest and it is important to take advantage of that,” he said.
He also said the Flames have a chance of winning the competition which they last won in 1988.
“Most guys that have made the trip are experienced players who have played for the team in big competitions such as the Afcon and World Cup qualifiers. We have a strong squad capable of winning this cup and I have that feeling that we will do better than the past two years when we got eliminated in the quarter-finals,” he said.
Msowoya leaves alongside Escom team-mate Bernard Harawa and Blue Eagles quartet of Steven Chagoma, Innocent Bokosi, Micium Mhone and Patrick Masanjala.
Malawi are in group C together with Eritrea, Zanzibar and Rwanda. They open their campaign against Rwanda tomorrow (Monday).
