Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says it is following up with Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen on the availability of left-back Kieran Ngwenya for next month’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon and Mozambique.
This follows an announcement that under current UK government rules, players would be forced to miss several games because of the 10-day isolation required on return to the UK.
FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka yesterday said they have sought Aberdeen’s position on the issue.
“We do not want to be caught off guard. So, we are engaging the Scottish side to give us their position as a follow up on the request we sent them for his release
“We have also contacted Kieran on the same and we are waiting to hear from both him and the club,” he said.
Zakazaka said they will also make a follow up on the other Europe-based players Charles Petro (Moldova), Fransisco Madinga (Georgia) and Tawonga Chimodzi (Cyprus).
He said: “We cannot just assume that since the Covid-19 restrictions in their bases are flexible, then they will be available.
“We need to be sure and do the needful now other than later.”
Flames coach Meck Mwase has called up 13 foreign-based players for the back-to-back qualifiers.
Apart from the Europe-based quartet, the others are captain Limbikani Mzava, Dennis Chembezi, Gerald Phiri Jnr, Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango, Richard Mbulu, Khuda Muyaba and Mike Mkwate who are based in South Africa, Tanzania-based Peter Banda and Mozambique-based John ‘CJ’ Banda.
Meanwhile, the Flames started camp training yesterday at Mpira Village in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre.
The Flames will travel to Cameroon for their first World Cup qualifier against the Indomitable Lions slated for September 3 and four days later they will host Mozambique’s Mambas in Johannesburg, South Africa.
