Ng’ambi frustrated

Flames inspirational midfielder Robert ‘Baggio’ Ng’ambi has spoken out his frustration with coach Kinnah Phiri for reducing him to a sideshow during the Flames matches.

Ng’ambi has not featured for the Flames in the recent competitive games against Chad and Ghana in 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and is questioning Kinnah’s justification for calling him for national duty and then reduce him to a bench warmer.

Said Ng’ambi: “I am surprised that the coach keeps on calling me for national duty and yet he does not feature me. It is frustrating, more so when he cannot explain as to why I am not being given game time.

“Of late, I have only featured as a second half substitute against Liberia and I only featured for less than 20 minutes.”

The Platinum Stars captain also said government spends a lot of money transporting him from South Africa only to warm the bench.

“I am not saying I am a better player than those that are there. In fact, I am happy with the performance of fellow midfielders in the team. There are a lot of players who have shown potential and this is good for the team.

“But my point is why call me all the way from South Africa just to put me on the bench when there are other players that can do better?” Ng’ambi wondered.

He also stressed that he is not bitter with the coach’s move to reduce him to the bench.

“I am not bitter because I know I’m not guaranteed a place in the national team. Team fielding is at the discretion of the coach and I know that a position in the team is earned after considering a number of factors, so all I want to know is why I am not playing,” said Ng’ambi.

Kinnah has defended his move, saying he was not impressed with Ng’ambi’s pace when he was introduced as a second half substitute in the strength-testing match against Liberia.

“I featured Robert [Ng’ambi] as a second half substitute in the match against Liberia and it was evident that he was struggling with pace,” said Kinnah.