Kamwendo out for two weeks

The Flames will be keeping their fingers crossed that their captain Joseph Kamwendo should be fit for the next 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mali’s Eagles slated for November 15 in Blantyre.

Kamwendo has been ruled out for two weeks having stretched his muscles during the game against Algeria in Algiers in which he limped off in the first-half.

“I have been advised to rest for two weeks, but hopefully I should be fit for the Mali game which means I should bounce back early next month,” said Kamwendo from DR Congo on Sunday.

Striker Atusaye Nyondo, who also suffered an injury during the game, could not be reached for his comment yesterday on the progress of his injury. But he did not feature for his South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side University of Pretoria in the 3-0 defeat at the hands of his former club SuperSport United on Saturday.

Flames assistant coach Jack Chamangwana on Monday said they are hoping that all the players that are nursing injuries would have fully recovered before the Mali encounter.

“Of main concern are Joseph and Atusaye because they got injured just last week and we are not too sure as to whether they will be fit enough by the time we take on Mali.

“As for the others such as [James] Sangala and Lucky Malata, I am sure they should have made some progress by now because they were given two weeks each,” said Chamangwana.

Both Sangala and Malata yesterday claimed they had made tremendous progress and are confident of being available for selection against Mali.

“I am getting on well and by the time we play Mali I am confident that I will be fit,” said Malata who is also the Flames’ first vice-captain.

Already, key midfielder-cum-striker John Banda is out of the rest of the campaign having been ruled out for a further six weeks due to a recurring ankle injury.