Malawi Flames foreign based players start jetting in ahead of strength testing match against Tanzania Taifa Stars

Four foreign based players have arrived in the country ahead of the Malawi National Football Team’s strength testing match against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on 13th June 202.

The match will be played at the Benjamin Mukapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam Stadium.

First to arrive at the Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe were midfielder Peter Banda and defender Charles Petro, all play trade at Moldovan side, FC Sheriff.

They were followed later in the afternoon by defender Denis Chembezi and striker Khuda Muyaba, who play for Polokwane City, South African first division side.

According to the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), the rest of foreign based players will jet in next week.

The Flames coach Meck Mwase named a 24-man squad comprising local and foreign based players.

Mwase recalled Cyprus based midfielders Tawonga Chimodzi who last played for the Flames in 2012 and Yamikani Chester, who missed the team’s last assignments against South Sudan and Uganda.

Malawi won both matches to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Finals to be staged in Cameroon.

Initially, the Flames were supposed to play against Cameroon and Mozambique in the World Cup qualifying campaign between June 5 and 15, but CAF shifted the matches to September 2021.

Speaking recently, Mwase said players needed to be active and use every avenue to play friendly matches.

Meanwhile, local players, who reported for camp training on May 31 at Mpira Village, formerly Chiwembe Technical Centre in Blantyre, have been released for parent club duty this weekend and return to Mpira Village Sunday evening

Below is the full squad.

Goalkeepers

Brighton Munthali (Silver Strikers)
William Thole (Mighty Wanderers)
Enerst Kakhobwe (Nyasa Big Bullets)

Defenders

Stanley Sanudi (Mighty Wanderers)
Peter Cholopi (Mighty Wanderers)
Eric Kaonga (Nyasa Big Bullets)
Nickson Nyasulu (Nyasa Big Bullets)
Nickson Mwase (Silver Strikers)
Limbikani Mzava (AmaZulu-RSA)
Denis Chembezi (Polokwane City-RSA)
Charles Petro (FC Sheriff-Moldova)
Paul Ndlobvu (Mafco)

Midfielders

Chikoti Chirwa (Kamuzu Barracks)
Rafiq Namwera (Mighty Wanderers)
Chimwemwe Idana (Nyasa Bi Bullets)
John Banda (UD Songo- Mozambique)
Yamikani Chester (Mighty Wanderers)
Gerald Phiri Jr (Baroka FC-RSA)
Francisco Madinga (FC Dila Gori- Georgia)
Tawonga Chimodzi (Omonia Aradippou- Cyprus)