Nyasa Big Bullets have been dealt a blow after their red-hot striker Patrick Phiri fractured his wrist during the Malawi Under-23 national football team’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Botswana at Kamuzu Stadium on Tuesday.
The player will be out for four weeks, according to Bullets team doctor Felix Mwalule.
He will miss Bullets’ next weekend Confederation of Africa football (CAF) Champions League preliminary round first and second leg against Kenya champions Gor Mahia.
“At first we thought it was a dislocation. But it’s a closed fracture and he has been put on PoP [plaster of Paris],” he said.
The development is a blow for Bullets who have been rescued several times by the pint-sized forward.
Phiri was also on target when Malawi lost 2-1 to Comoros in 2019 Africa Cup of Nations the qualifier in Moroni, Comoros.
The striker was among three Flames players that beefed up the Under-23 national football team in the second leg.
Meanwhile, Bullets opponents Gor Mahia have opted for assistant coach Zedekiah Otieno to lead the team on interim basis ahead of the CAF Champions League match following the exit of Dylan Kerr to South African Premier League side Black Leopards.
Gor Mahia, who are still in the market for Kerr’s replacement, said they have faith in their assistant coach.
“I wish to call upon you all to continue rallying behind the team with songs, dance and an upbeat morale as we prepare to face Nyasa Big Bullets FC of Malawi in the upcoming CAF Champions League preliminary match on November 28, 2018,” Gor Mahia treasurer Sally Bollo said in a statement posted on the team’s website.
