The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) will this weekend hold an Under-20 National Championship at Mangochi Stadium to select players for the Junior Flames.
FAM technical development officer Benjamin Kumwenda yesterday said the two-day event, which kicks off tomorrow, will involve four regional select teams.
This means at least 80 players will battle for space in the Under-20 football national team that is expected to go for camping in preparation for the 2021 Cosafa Under-20 Championship in December.
He said: “The regional teams will play against each other in a round robin format. Thereafter, U-20 head coach Patrick Mabedi and his technical staff will select best players for national camping.
“A total of six games will be played, three per day. Through this event, we would like the Mabedi-led technical panel to select the best of the best players in a competitive environment.”
Kumwenda said, as a department, they have given the coach an opportunity to choose the best players, who will be with him for the next two to three years.
“Our goal is to see these players qualify for the 2023 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations because they will gain more international exposure between now and the period of the qualifiers in December 2022,” he said.
On his part, Mabedi urged participating players to give their all during the exercise to increase their chances of being drafted into the Junior Flames squad.
About 67 players were identified during the regional talent identification exercise last month while the other 13 were drawn from the squad that participated in the 2020 Cosafa Youth Championship.
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