Malawi coach Kalisto Pasuwa is under scrutiny for excluding in-form striker Binwell Katinji from the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Namibia and Tunisia next weekend.
Pasuwa sidelined the Silver Strikers forward and local Player of the Year Isaac Kaliyati in the 28-member squad to face Namibia on March 20 before taking on Tunisia five days later. Katinji’s exclusion has irked some quarters who accused the coach of focusing on players from his former employers FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.
Commenting on his former page, former Bullets midfielder Chimango Kaira said “there was no question that Katinji was a better striker” than other players Pasuwa has selected such as Ephraim Kondowe. Kayira added that maybe the Flames coach opted for the Bullets striker Kondowe because he was relatively younger.
However, former Flames striker Esau Kanyenda has defended the Zimbabwean trainer saying he must have chosen players based on his game plan.
Katinji scored two goals in two games against Comoros in back-to-back games in the last two weeks to help the Flames advance to the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) final qualifying round.
Malawi host Namibia in Lilongwe at Bingu National Stadium on Thursday, March 20 before facing Tunisia at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi on Monday, March 24.
Pasuwa’s squad comprises 11 foreign-based players such as goalkeeper William Thole of Zimbabwe league champions Simba Bhora FC and FC Platinum defenders Gomezgani Chirwa, Nickson Nyasulu.
Mozambique-based duo of Richard Mbulu and Lloyd Njaliwa, along with South Africa-based striker Gabadinho Mhango, have also been included, according to Football Association of Malawi statement.
The squad also comprises defender Denis Chembezi of Iraq’s Al-Qasim SC, Romania-based defender Charles Petro, DRC-based Lanjesi Nkhoma and Patrick Mwaungulu, as well as Zambia’s ZANACO FC striker Chawanangwa Kaonga.
The Flames will regroup in Lilongwe on Thursday 13 March 2025.
Comments