Flames captain Limbikani ‘Pupa’ Mzava has excused himself from the upcoming Cosafa Cup due to an injury.
Team manager James Sangala was responding to a question on why the Flames on-field leader is not among the foreign-based players called up for the regional showpiece, which will run from May 26 to July 8 in Durban, South Africa.
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“Initially, he was on the coaches’ plans for this tournament, but we learnt from him that he has a shoulder injury and needs a bit of time to recuperate,” said Sangala.
Mzava, who was the most consistent Malawian player in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) in the just-ended season, confirmed the development in an interview yesterday.
“Actually, it’s not only the shoulder, I also suffered a knock in our last game and I was advised by the team doctor to rest for a couple of weeks,” he said.
Mzava last played for the Flames in September last year against Morocco in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier which Malawi lost 3-0 in Casablanca.
He excused himself from the next qualifier against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions and was consequently dropped from the other engagements against Cameroon, Comoros and Morocco by former coach Ronny van Geneugden who questioned his commitment to national duty.
But Mzava yesterday insisted that he has always been committed to national duty.
