RVG names Malawi squad to prepare for Cosafa Cup
Malawi National Football team coach Ronny Van Geneugden has named a 27-man strong preliminary squad for the 2018 COSAFA Cup tournament scheduled for the South Africa’s Limpopo Province from May 27-June 9.
The players will start camping on Monday at Chiwembe Village in Blantyre.
The squad, released on Wednesday, consists of five foreign-based players and 16 players from Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers while Silver Strikers has contributed three players only as Civil Sporting Club,TN Stars and Moyale Barracks have each contributed a single player.
There is no place for captain Limbikani Mzava who called on the coach not to call professional players.
Malawi national football team assistant coach Peter Mponda said they have called best players for the competition they should not take any chances.
“We have to take the best players for the competition because if we cannot do well with inexperienced players people will not consider that,” Mponda said.
Van Geneudgen took a squad of TNM Superleague players after failing to have foreign-based stars released for the tournament but he managed to convince some of the clubs to release the foreign-based players for this year.
Geneudgen will be returning to COSAFA Cup after a disappointing debut last year.
The Belgian took Malawi to COSAFA Cup two months after his appointment as Malawi coach in April 2017.
Malawi lost to guests Tanzania 2-0 in the opening group match before goalless draws against Angola and Mauritius to now out of the competition without scoring a goal
Malawi are in group B alongside Botswana, Mauritius and Angola.
Below is the full squad list;
Goalkeepers
Bright Munthali-Silver
Enerst Kankhobwe-NMC
Rabison Chiyenda-NMC
Richard Chipuwa-Beforward
Defenders:
Stanly Sanudi-Beforward
John Lanjesi-NMC
Peter Cholopi-Beforward
Dennis Chembedzi-Beforward
Gomezgan Chirwa-Civil Sporting
Ian Chinyama-TN Stars
Miracle Gabeya-NMC
Precious Sambani-Beforward
Midfielders:
Chimwemwe Idana-NMC
Alfred Manyozo-Beforward
Mike Nkwate-NMC
Rafick Namwera-Beforward
Levison Maganizo-Silver
Strikers/Wingers:
Felix Zulu-Beforward
Chiukepo Msowoya-NMC
Patrick Phiri-NMC
John Banda-Ferroviaro de Nampula
Robin Ngalande-Baroka fc
Chawanangwa Kaonga-Costal do Sol
Richard Mbulu-ADS
Dalitso Sailesi-Lusaka Dynamos
Gustin Simkonda-Moyale Barracks
Am sure Peter mponda ndiamene asakha ma players awa osato RVG zoona ma bankers atatu okha.
Sopano mukutitengera ma goalkeeper onse awiri ndiye kuti sitimamenya ma game mukapita ku COSAFAKO!
maule woyeee!!!
Only the results will prove whether these are the BEST PLAYERS. We want AN ATTACK MINDED TEAM WHICH IS TRULY HUNGRY TO WIN EVEN WHEN THEY ARE 3-0 DOWN. FIGHTING SPIRIT IS THE KEY. Those players who believe can’t win the trophy must be dropped immediately. MAPLAYER MULEKELETU KUSEWERA MWA CHIBWANA , TAMVANA???? YOU NEED A WINNING MENTALITY TO WIN THINGS. Zimayamba ndi kaganizidwe ka maplayer plus MOTIVATION from coaches when the going is getting tough. Osamangodya TAX PAYERS MONEY!!! TAMVANA ????
Same old song.Malawi soccer far from developing.Wanderers & Bullets 16 players just to secure RVG job.SYMPATHY my foot.Sports will never develop in Malawi same old faces they can’t bring new ideas.Kudya ndalama basi.We need new faces at FAM,NAM,etc even Sports council they are just there to embezzle funding from govt.We need new faces with new ideas for sports to develop in this country.