Malawi coach to all players against Botswana

Flames caretaker coach Eddington Ng’onamo has hinted that all the 20 players will feature in Tuesday’s international friendly against Botswana’s Zebras in Gaborone.

The Flames will face Botswana at University of Gaborone to tune up for Saturday’s crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier against Namibia in Windhoek.

“The plan is to feature all the players that have been included in the squad to give us an opportunity to try a number of combinations in a game situation.

“We have also included a number of new players such as Lucky Malata and Young Chimodzi Jnr. We want to assess their performance in a game situation,” said Ng’onamo.

He also said the game will provide him and his backroom staff a chance to give goalkeepers Owen Chaima and Richard Chipuwa their first international caps.

“Of course, they have been part of the squad before, but they have never been given a chance to play and this match will provide us an ideal situation to assess them as well,” said Ng’onamo.

A group of 10 home-based players and six officials led by FAM executive member Paul Mzungu flew out on Sunday afternoon enroute for Namibia.

Ten foreign-based players are expected to join the squad by Monday in Gaborone.

Meanwhile, reports from Gaborone indicate the Zebra’s will feature a team comprising home-based players only.