Malawi star Sangala arrives two hours before Namibia showdown
Malawi national football team’s Angola based professional, James Sangala, will join the rest of the Flames squad to face Namibia on Wednesday in a crucial World Cup qualifier barely two hours the encounter.
The Flames most experienced defender at the moment has been delayed by visa process complications but head coach Eddington Ng’onamo has said that he is still part of his plans for the encounter.
Ng’onamo said the technical panel would assess the player before deciding to throw him into starting line-up.
“He is a professional player and he knows what to do. So the delay should not be much of a problem,” Ng’onamo said yesterday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre as the team went through the last paces of training.
“We gave him instructions to stay in shape because we still need him.”
Fam General Secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said the player left Angola on Tuesday arriving Wednesday at noon after spending a night in South Africa.
The former Wanderers defence pillar is already considered to start alongside South Africa based duo of Harry Nyirenda and Limbikani Mzava, Mozambique based Moses Chavula with Robert Ng’ambi, captain Joseph Kamwendo, Douglas Chirambo and rejuvenated Fischer Kondowe in the midfield.
South Africa based veteran striker Esau Kanyenda and youthful former Atletico Madrid Reserve player Robin Ngalande expected to lead the attack upfront as the coach has a few attacking options following the injury of Frank Banda, Zico Mkanda, out of sorts Atusaye Nyondo and super substitute Chiukepo Msowoya.
Sangala plies his trade for Benfica after spells with another Angolan club Premiero de Augost, South Africa’s Benon United and Thanda Royal Zulu.
Kamwendo also joined the squad late when his club Liga Muçulmana de Maputo in Mozambique were reluctant to release him five days before the game as required by Fifa.
He joined the squad on Monday in the evening, giving him just a day of full time training with the rest of the squad.
Malawi are fighting for victory to put themselves on course for a place in the last qualifying round of Brazil 2014 World Cup.
They are tied with Nigeria at five points but the Super Eagles have a better goal aggregate.
Nigeria face Kenya on Wednesday in Kenya as both teams aim to give themselves a pole position for a place at 2016 World Cup.
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