Chiukepo pleads for Flames consideration
Discarded Flames 2010 Africa Cup of Nations qualification hero Chiukepo ‘Yakubu’ Msowoya has said he wants to play a part in the Flames’ ambitious 2014 World Cup qualification campaign.
Chiukepo was not part of the bloated 35-member squad that has been called up for the forthcoming qualifiers against Namibia’s Brave Warriors and Kenya’s Harambee Stars.
He last featured for the Flames during last year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup tournament in Uganda where he was not only one of the leading scorers, but also ended the strikers’ 11-game goal drought.
Chiukepo said he is not bitter with his continued exclusion from the squad.
“I know that the team has a new coaching panel and probably they are still assessing players and selection is at their discretion.
“But I would love to play a part in the World Cup campaign. There are a number of promising forwards that have come up in the recent past and I would like to be offered an opportunity to compete for a place.
“I believe I have regained form and I am capable of delivering for the Flames,” he said from Mozambique where he plays for reigning top Mocambola League side Maxaquene.
The former Orlando Pirates forward has so far played seven games and scored two goals, his latest came was last weekend when he scored in Maxaquene’s 2-1 win over HCB.
The player’s manager James Nelito Pondomale who also manages several Malawian players plying their trade in Mozambique also said Chiukepo is one of the players who merits Flames consideration.
“His level of fitness has picked up and he is enjoying a rich vein of consistent form. The others that are doing well at their respective clubs are Joseph [Kamwendo], Emmanuel Chipatala and Lewis Minjale.
“But the challenge for the coaches is that they have not established a network this side nor are they able to follow the performance of players this side. I would advise FAM to make an effort to send the coach here so that he can establish the performance of the players,” said Pondomale.
Flames caretaker coach Eddington Ng’onamo recently said the challenge is that he does not know how the contingent of Malawian players are doing in Mozambique.
“Of course as I said there is need to travel to Mozambique to watch some games and probably engage coaches to find out how our players are doing. Otherwise we cannot rush into calling a player before we know how he is fairing,” said Ng’onamo.
Other Malawian players based in the former Portuguese colony include Simplex Nthala, Foster Namwela, Moses Chavula, Zicco Mkanda, Jimmy Chikulekule, Vincent Chinthenga, Sankhani Nyirenda, Rafique Mussa, Patrick Thupi, Danga Mlelemba, Gerald Nkungula, Gerald Chimbaka, Innocent Jere and Godfrey Masondo.
