Flames coach Young Chimodzi will exclude most foreign-based players in the squad bound for next month’s 2015 Cosafa Cup in South Africa.
“Some will be left out and join us after the Cosafa Cup for Afcon qualifiers. It is a must that we qualify for Africa Cup of Nations [Afcon],” said Chimodzi yesterday.
He spoke to The Nation after releasing a squad of only home-based players who are expected to start camp training next Monday.
Flames are, alongside Guinea, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, in Group L of Afcon qualifiers. The first game against the Warriors of Zimbabwe is scheduled for mid-June.
FAM technical committee chairperson Moses Mkandawire and FAM president Walter Nyamilandu confirmed that the target for the coaches were Afcon qualification and winning Cosafa cup. The Flames are two-time Cosafa cup finalists.
“We will send a strong team for Cosafa with the view to winning the first prize. We also plan to use Cosafa to prepare for Africa Cup of Nations; hence ,some of the senior professional players will be left behind to give a chance to up-and-coming local players,” Nyamilandu said.
“We will embark on thorough preparations for both competitions and friendly matches will be announced in due course.”
Mkandawire added that the focus on Cosafa Cup would be on skills’ development and winning the regional showpiece which kicks off on May 17, 2015.
The Flames’ first quarter-final game against Mozambique’s Mambas is scheduled for Olympia Park, in Northwest Province on May 24.
