Malata, Cholopi fail trials in SA

Be Forward Wanderers centrebacks Lucky Malata and Peter Cholopi’s dreams of securing professional deals in South Africa have been shattered after the two failed to impress at South Africa’s National First Division (NFD) side Free State Stars.

The duo left two weeks ago for the trials facilitated by Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture’s director of football Kinnah Phiri, who once coached the team.

Efforts to talk to the players and Kinnah were unsuccessful, but Wanderers chairperson Gift Mkandawire confirmed the development, saying the duo returned over the weekend.

“They came back and were not successful, but I don’t have more information as we are yet to meet them,” he said.

Speaking in a separate interview, Wanderers team manager Victor Maunde said the players returned from the trials and are expected to join the squad this week.

The trials were the first for Cholopi, who impressed at recent Cosafa Cup in South Africa where Malawi lost to South Africa in Plate Final.

However, Malata has in the past unsuccessfully attended trials at different clubs in the Rainbow Nation.

According to www.kickoff.com, the Malawians had a chance to seal the deal as the team has assembled a new squad after being relegated from Premier Soccer League (PSL) last season.

Stars are revamping their squad in preparation for a difficult life in the National First Division (NFD) after they were relegated from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) at the end of last season.

“Paulus Masehe is one of them; we have got Katlego Mokhuane training with us.

“We also have got Mpho Khabane and a midfielder from Uganda [Kizza] also with us.

“The rest are all new faces,”  www.kickoff.com quoted coach Themba Sithole, as saying.

Former Flames and Nyasa Bullets striker Jimmy Zakazaka played for Free State for three years.