Finally: Chiukepo joins Flames Camp

In a desperate move to revive Malawi’s chances of making it to the next phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier, Ernest Mtawali has re-called Big Bullets forward Chiukepo Msowoya who sustained an injury in training before the first leg.

The move is meant to boost the team’s striking force ahead of the second leg tie against Tanzania on Sunday.

The Flames conceded two goals without a reply and if they are to progress through, they must score three goals without conceding against the Taifa Stars.

In the first leg, Mtawali’s boys created lot’s of scoring goal opportunities in both halves but scored none, forcing the mentor to re-call Msowoya who was ruled out of the first tie due to a hamstring injury.

Mtawali has also re-called Azam Tigers midfielder Yamikani Chester and is also considering re-calling Blue Eagles scoring goal machine Shumacker Kuwali and Silver Strikers defender Wonder Jeremani.

However, it is still not known whether the former Flames midfielder will consider calling back goal keeper Richard Chipuwa or not after dropping him in the first tie.

A lot of soccer pundits have for not more than once, questioned Mtawali’s squad selection for the two games he has been in-charge of the team.

Renowned football commentator Steve Liwewe Banda said the decision to drop Chipuwa backfired.

“You see, one can not throw away dirty water when you don’t have clean one. It was very important for the coach to give reasons for Chipuwa’s dropping other than saying he has poor communication skills. Look at that silly goal conceded by his favorite Simplex Nthala, Chipuwa could have done better,” he said.

Another football analyst Humphrey Mvula echoed Liwewe Banda’s words. “Mtawali has to change his mentality.

He is in-charge of the team, he has to treat all the players equally. Making a single mistake was not a valid reason to drop Chipuwa, he remains one of the best goalkeepers in the domestic league,” he explained.

Mtawali’s gamble in the two games has not paid dividends as his youngstars failed to withstand the heat against Swaziland and Tanzania respectively.