Ngalande signs for Azerbaijan side
Flames forward Robin Ngalande has signed a five-month deal with Azerbaijan side Zira FK with an option to extend by a year.
Speaking in an interview from his new base Baku on Tuesday, Ngalande said: “This is a top league side and it offers a window of opportunity because if we can finish in the top five then we qualify for the European inter-club competitions.
“So, yes, after being without a club for almost six months it feels good to be back in business.
“I am here to represent Malawi and my signing is good for the national team as I will be active at top level,” he said.
The 26-year-old former Atletico Madrid Reserves, Bidvest Wits, Platinum Stars, Ajax Cape Town and Baroka FC forward said he opted for a move overseas because he wanted more challenges.
“It took a couple of days for me to sign because the team had travelled to Turkey for camping in preparation for the second-round. They only got back a few days ago.
“After my first training session, I got a call from management that we should proceed with the paperwork,” he said.
Ngalande’s move increases the number of Malawian players overseas to four. The others are Jabulani Linje (Japan), Tawonga Chimodzi (Greece) and more recently Yamikani Chester (US).
Ngalande has joined Zira alongside Botswana striker Mpho Kgaswane who was also his team-mate at Baroka where they mutually parted ways with the club. Zira finished fourth last season, but are bottom of the eight-team log, with 10 points from 14 games.
