Sailesi misses Tanzania trip
Zambia-based midfielder Daliso Sailesi will miss Malawi national football team’s friendly against Tanzania set for Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam this Saturday.
There are conflicting reasons for the Dynamos player’s absence, with the club saying he is processing a work permit.
Surprisingly, the player has been playing for his club in the Zambian National League.
The player also confirmed getting the work permit a day before joining the Flames for the Morocco training camp last month.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) general secretary Alfred Gunda said the club also delayed to communicate the ‘work permit’ excuse.
“We wrote them several weeks ago, but they only responded today [Wednesday]. They tried to soften up to let the player come, but it was too late. The player had missed several training sessions and if he was to come, it would mean arriving on the day of departure—which did not make sense to us. So we dropped him,” he said.
Flames head coach Ronny Van Geneugden (RVG) has since named a 19-man squad for the match.
This time, the coach has picked maximum of three players per club, making it possible for Super League fixtures not to be disturbed.
Be Forward Wanderers have contributed JabulaniLinje, Stanley Sanudi and debutant winger Felix Zulu.
Nyasa Big Bullets have YamikaniFodya, Miracle Gabeya and John Lanjesi in the squad.
Silver Strikers’ Brighton Munthali has also made the trip, replacing injured Nyasa Big Bullets ‘keeper Ernest Kakhobwe alongside teammate Levisonmaganizo.
Civil Sporting Club trio of Fletcher Bandawe, GomezganiChirwa and Righteous Banda has also made it.
Regulars Red Lions captain ChikotiChirwa and PremierBet Wizards captain Dennis Chembezi are also in the squad.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda said following the development, all fixtures will proceed as announced since no team will be exempted
FAM acting competitions manager Casper Jangale said disturbing the league fixtures would have resulted in a prolonged season.
“It could have been very difficult to complete the league by December,” he said.
Foreign-based players Charles Swini, Frank Banda, Gerald Phiri Jnr, Richard Mbulu, GabadinhoMhango and Robert Ng’ambi complete the squad.
For the first time in awhile, technical director John Kaputa will accompany the team to Tanzania.
