National Sports

U-17 selection on track

 

Under-17 coach DeKlerk Msakakuwona says the players selection process for the junior Flames is on track at four designated centres across the country.

The trials are underway at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Blantyre, Zomba Community Centre ground in Zomba, Nankhaka Stadium in Lilongwe and Mzuzu Stadium in Mzuzu.

“So far so good. The response has been overwhelming. Several players turned up for the process. We are optimistic that we will assemble a good squad,” said Msakakuwona.

National Youth Football Association (NYFA) and the Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa) are also involved in the process.

The team will go into camp on Sunday in preparation for the 2016 Cosafa Youth Championship to be staged in Mauritius later this month.

Players undergoing trials at Mpira Stadium on Wednesday in Blantyre
Players undergoing trials at Mpira Stadium on Wednesday in Blantyre

According to FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda, NYFA and Massa already have some players earmarked for the Under-17 team selected from the Copa Coca-Cola, Airtel Money and FMB youth competitions.

“FAM decided to give an opportunity to other players who were not part of the three competitions to get noticed and make it into the final squad,” Nyirenda said.

The Junior Flames have been drawn against Zambia, Madagascar and Mozambique in Group B.

Hosts Mauritius are in Group A and will contest with former winners South Africa as well as Namibia and the Seychelles.

The top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals, where the top team in Group A plays the Group B runner-up and the Group B winner faces the second placed side from Group A.

Malawi took part in the last Cosafa Under-17 Championship in Zimbabwe in 2014 and finished fourth.

The team’s best performance in the competition was a gold medal when Malawi hosted the competition in 2001.

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