Civo axe 11 players
Civo United have chopped 11 senior players as they embark on an overhaul drive to rebuild the team in readiness for the new season.
In an interview yesterday, the club’s general secretary Ronald Chiwaula said the 11 players are goalkeepers Tione Tembo and Charles Swini, defenders Andrew Banda, Chikondi Maloya and Mathews Zaulombo, midfielders Ibrahim Sadik, Isaac Msiska and Kelvin Thotho as well as strikers Anzeru Joseph, Fletcher Bandawe and Jafalie Chande.
He said: “We are in the process of rebuilding and the technical panel recommended that the 11 players leave the club. We have officially communicated to the players.”
Chiwaula said players such as Chande, Sadik, Thotho, Bandawe, Maloya, Zaulombo, Joseph, Tembo and Swini are out of contract.
He said: “These players have their contracts expired, but for Msiska he has been released because he breached the contract. Despite receiving his salary he never reported for duty. The other players have been released because of poor performance.”
The overhaul comes despite the club finishing fourth in the 2021 TNM Super League season behind third-placed Mighty Wanderers, runners-up Silver Strikers and champions Nyasa Big Bullets.
Team manager Gabriel Chirwa said they are now scouting for players to replace them.
“We have identified players to replace the ones released, but we are yet to finalise the process. But soon we will have a full squad for the 2022 season,” he said.
The Super League of Malawi has announced that the 2022 TNM super league season starts on February 26.
