By Mabvuto Kambuwe:
Civil Sporting Club striker, Raphael Phiri, has said he might not be ready to join Mozambican giants Costa do Sol in January due to a prolonged injury lay-off.
The versatile attacker signed a one-year pre-contract with Costa this year but is yet to recover from the injury he sustained during a TNM Super League match against TN Stars.
However, Phiri said he was hopeful that he would return from injury a better player.
“I will be back in action next season. When I got injured, I was in the race for the Golden Boot Award and I was hoping to recover in time but things did not go according to plan.
“I already signed a contract with Costa but, due to my injury, I will not be ready to join them in January. It is frustrating for me because they want me as soon as possible,” Phiri said.
Civil Team Manager, Gabriel Chirwa, said the Lilongwe giants felt the absence of Phiri in both cup and league games.
“He is a top striker and we missed him for the better part of the season. It is pleasing that he will be back next season,” Chirwa said.
In the absence of Phiri, Civil have been relying on the striking partnership of Christopher Kumwembe and Isaac Msiska.
Despite missing in action for a good part of the second round, Phiri is the third leading striker with 11 goals, three short of joint leaders Chiukepo Msowoya of Nyasa Big Bullets and Moyale Barracks’ Gastin Simkonda.
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