Kings of Malawi, Wanderers regroup on Jan 9 to prepare Africa Champions League
Kings of Malawi football, Mighty Be Forward Wanderers who have been crowned TNM Super League champions will regroup on January 9 2018 to start preparations for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Club Champions League and have lined out two international strength testing matches before their CAF adventure .
Team manager Steven Madeira said players will rest for two weeks before resuming their preparations and said the Nomads are ready to give Africa Champions League rivals a taste of what the Super League got.
The Nomads have been paired against Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) giants Association Sportive Vita Club, commonly known as AS Vita with first legs of the matches to be played between February 9 and 11 as Nomads will be first to host AS Vita while the second legs will be played between February 16 and 18 next year.
Madeira warned that the Nomads side are not just in it for the ride.
“ To be in the Champions League is another step on this incredible journey. We have a capable swuad to compete,” he said.
The Nomads have blended a mixture of experienced and youthful squad.
They have experienced players in strikers Esau Kanyenda and Peter Wadabwa, midfielder Joseph Kamwendo, defender Lucky Malata and Harry Nyirenda.
Some of their youthful players include Ted Sumani,Precious Sambani, Isaac Kaliati, Felix Zulu and Rafiq Namwela.
Nomads captain Joseph Kamwendo, who had a stint with DRC national league champions and former CAF Champions League winners TP Mazembe between 2013 and 2015, described As Vita as a good club but was quick to stress that they can be matched by the Nomads.
“They are a good side side just like TP Mazembe , but we can beat them because we are also a good side,” said Kamwendo.
The Kinshasa-based outfit are seasonal campaigners in the Champions League.
The club has eight appearances from 1971 to 1995 and six from 1998 to date. They won the championship in 1973 and finished as runners-up in 2014.
Meanwhile, Wanderers coach Yasin Osman and his technical staff – which also includes Jack Chamangwana, assistant coach Bob Mpinganjira – have proposed two international strength testing matches before kick-off of the African showpiece.
Nyasa Big Bullets were the last team to compete in a CAF tournament when they participated in the Champions League in 2014 and reached the last eight of the continental showpiece when they were sponsored by former president Bakili Muluzi.
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