Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has started the process of having Malawi national team players and technical staff tested for Covid-19 ahead of camping to prepare for the Cosafa Cup.
The regional showpiece is tentatively slated for October 2 to 17 in Durban South Africa.
The Flames players underwent the tests at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe and at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre last Friday and the results are expected after a week.
Flames captain John ‘CJ’ Banda confirmed undergoing the test in Lilongwe.
“We did that last Friday. Those in Lilongwe did it here while those in Blantyre also did it separately,” he said.
The decision to start testing the players follows indications that government could lift the ban on sports activities this week.
FAM has put in place national football team camping protocols which have to be followed before the team can regroup and disinfecting Mpira Village [in Chiwembe Township] where camp training takes place, was the first step.
Soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda applauded FAM, saying the testing of players had to start as the association awaits the announcement for sports resumption.
“Time is not on FAM’s side. They don’t have to wait until the announcement to start testing the players,” he said.
Meanwhile, Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) deputy chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said they are confident that all member associations will participate in the competition despite travel restrictions still in place in some countries.
“Some countries such as Botswana and Namibia are still in a state of emergency. We are just keeping our fingers crossed that the situation will get back to normal,” he said.
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