Flames first-choice goalkeeper Simplex Nthala has been deemed surplus to requirements at Mozambican top Mocambola League side Liga Maculmana who have decided to loan him out.
According to reports from Mozambique, the club’s Brazilian coach Litos, took the decision because the club cannot afford two good foreign goalkeepers.
Apart from Nthala, Maculmana have a Brazilian goaltender Caio Venancio and the coach seems to have settled for his compatriot. They also have two other Mozambican goalkeepers.
However, the development comes as a surprise as Nthala, who was named the league’s best goalkeeper last season, signed a two-year deal with the team after impressing at Vilankulo FC where he was also on loan from Maculmana.
Nthala could not hide his disappointment with the development in an interview from the Mozambican capital on Sunday.
“I am very upset because the reasons given by Maculmana for deciding to loan me out are not convincing. I wonder why they signed me in the first place when they knew that they had other plans?
“The development will definitely affect my game because it’s like I will not be settled,” said Nthala.
He also claimed to have turned down good offers from other clubs preferring to rejoin Maculmana.
“They loaned me out last year and my contract expired in November. They pleaded with me to sign a two-year deal and promised that I would enjoy game time and that is why I agreed.
“And now, after featuring in only one CAF Champions League game, they say I am a surplus to requirement; it is an insult,” he said.
However, Nthala said it would not be a problem finding another team.
“Already there are three teams that are interested in my services, but according to Maculmana, they will loan me to a team that will be able to meet their conditions,” he said.
Each team in the Mozambican top league is allowed to sign five foreign players and feature three per game and, apart from Nthala, Maculmana have two other Malawian internationals Joseph Kamwendo and Zicco Mkanda.
Last year, Nthala also fell out of favour with the club when it blocked his move to South African side Santos where he had successful trials.
Flames caretaker coach Eddington Ng’onamo described the development as a setback to Flames’ preparations for the Namibia game later this month.
“At this moment, we need all the players to be in the right frame of mind and such developments affect them psychologically. He is now thinking of finding a new team when he thought he had settled down. I will talk to him to ensure that he remains calm,” said Ng’onamo.
