CECAFA nods to Malawi participation as guests

Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) has given its seal of approval for the Malawi team, the Flames, to take participate in this year’s East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup  tournament scheduled for November 21 to December 6.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) General Secretary Suzgo Nyirenda confirmed that they received communication from Cecafa on Saturday.

“Cecafa sent us written communication on Saturday and we are meeting the coach Ernest Mtawali and his assistant Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan to plan on the preparations,” said Nyirenda.

The FAM GS disclosed that the Flames are likely to camp within the week to prepare for the tournament

“We do not have much time. We need to assemble the team as soon as possible,” he said.

Cecafa general secretary Nicholas Musonye confirmed last week that although a number of countries outside the Cecafa region had expressed interest to take part as guest teams, FAM was the only association that had formally submitted an official request accordingly.

However, Cecafa has asked FAM to pay for the Flames’ travel costs as the condition for participation.

But impeccable sources close to the deal revealed that Burundian assistant coach Ramadhan played a critical for CECAFA to accept Malawi.

“Ramadhan using his East African connection did a lot push for Malawi to be considered. This is because he is a personal friend to CECAFA General Secretary Musonye,” said the source.

“Malawi might not have been considered that’s why they have also put a condition for the association to pay for its own transport costs which was not the case in the past.”

Under former coach Kinnah Phiri Malawi participated in 2010 as guests where they were eliminated by Cameroon in the semi-finals.

Malawi has won the CECAFA  three times in 1978, 1979 and 1988 before shifting to COSAFA and could have been one of the most successful clubs having reached the finals six times.

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