Flames coach Ronny van Geneugden (RVG) has named his provisional squad for the 2018 Cosafa Cup to be held in South Africa from May 27 to June 9.
According to the squad submitted to Cosafa at the close of registration yesterday, four foreign-based players have been included.
They are Portugal-based Richard Mbulu, Robin Ngalande who tuns out for South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Baroka FC, Zambia-based Lusaka Dynamos winger Dalitso Sailesi and Mozambique-based John Banda.
Be Forward Wanderers have contributed the highest number of players in goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa, defenders Stanley Sanudi, Precious Sambani, Peter Cholopi and Dennis Chembezi, midfielders Felix Zulu, Rafiq Namwera and Alfred Manyozo Jnr.
RVG’s squad has also been reinforced WITH Nyasa Big Bullets players—defender John Lanjesi, strikers Chiukepo Msowoya and Patrick Phiri—who were not with the squad during week-long camp due to club commitments.
RVG has included rising star Phiri after an impressive performance in the TNM Super League.
Moyale Barracks striker Gastin Simkonda returns to the Flames and Cosafa Cup after over a year’s absence following injuries he sustained in a fatal road accident in 2016.
The Flames regrouped on Monday after a break during the weekend and fly to South Africa this Friday.
Team manager James Sangala said the provisional squad is bound to change as the final list will only be released upon RVG’s return from Angola where he accompanied the Under-20 national team.
Meanwhile, Sangala has said Namibia-based defender George Nyirenda alongside five Bullets players who missed last week’s assessment, have been called up.
The Bullets players, minus the two goalkeepers [Ernest Kakhobwe and Rabson Chiyenda] will join the rest of the players in camp. George Nyirenda has been called into camp as well. John Banda and Dalitso Sailesi arrive today [yesterday]. Robin Ngalande already arrived in the country on Wednesday and will join camp today [yesterday],” he said.
“The Flames start their Group B campaign against Mauritius on May 28. Their second fixture is against Botswana two days later before wrapping up the group stages against Angola on June 1.
The provisional squad is as follows: Goalkeepers: Chipuwa, Brighton Munthali; Defenders: Sanudi, Sambani, Chembezi, Cholopi, Ian Chinyama, Gomezgani Chirwa, Lanjesi; Midfielders: Levison Maganizo, Namwela, Felix Zulu, Manyozo, Banda, Sailesi, Ngalande; Strikers: Msowoya, Richard Mbulu, Simkonda and Phiri. n
