Flames goalkeeper Simplex Nthala says he is delighted with the prospect of donning national team colours again when the Flames face Uganda next week.<\/p>\n
Nthala has been included in the 25-member squad by Flames interim coach Ernest Mtawali assembled in preparation for the independence celebrations friendly match against Uganda at Kamuzu Stadium on July 6.<\/p>\n
Speaking in an interview from Mozambique on Monday, the former Mighty Wanderers goalkeeper, said he had been waiting for the second chance, claiming he was eager to prove critics wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am happy for the trust and confidence the new coaches have shown in me. If given a chance, I will do the job I know as a goalkeeper,\u201d said Nthala.<\/p>\n
However, Nthala said he was still waiting for communication from his club if he would be released to join Flames squad ahead of the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe club is handling the issue and they will communicate to me after their decision, but for me, I am ready,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Nthala last played for the<\/p>\n
Flames in 1-4 humiliating defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe at Kamuzu Stadium last year.<\/p>\n
During the reign of Young Chimodzi and Jack Chamangwana as Flames coaches, Nthala was overlooked despite the goalkeeping crisis.<\/p>\n
Current number one Flames goalkeeper Macdonald Harawa has let down the nation on a number of occassions while Richard Chipuwa and Charles Swini have had limited time to prove their worth.<\/p>\n
In Mozambique, Nthala has<\/p>\n
been in top form for Mocambola League leaders, Maxaquene this season.<\/p>\n
So far, Nthala is the best goalkeeper in Mozambique after letting in only four goals in 13 matches in the league.<\/p>\n
Maxaquene are on top of the Mocambola League with 27 points from 13 games.<\/p>\n
Coach Mtawali says his priority is to give locals chance to prove their prowess during the match against Uganda.<\/p>\n
Mtawali\u2019s 25-member reshuffled squad regrouped yesterday at Chiwembe Technical Centre in Blantyre.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, we want to win during the Independence Day. So we have included some of the young players to give them a chance to show their quality. We have a good squad that played at the Cosafa Cup, but we just need to blend the team with some of the new players to make it stronger,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The former Mamelodi Sundowns star has called five members from the Flames under-20 squad, including Brighton Munthali, Boston Kabango, Stanley Sanudi, Isaac Kaliati and Enerst Tambe ahead of the Uganda friendly.<\/p>\n
The coach has recalled Mozambique-based experienced goalkeeper Nthala, Kamuzu Barracks\u2019 midfielder Davie Banda and Big Bullets in-form forward Chiukepo Msowoya.<\/p>\n
Moyale Barracks goalkeeper, Macdonald Harawa and Flames vice captain Lucky Malata, who have come under intense criticism for poor performance, have also been included.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Flames assistant coach Gerald Phiri said it was an honour to work with Mtawali at the Flames.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worked with him at the under-20 side. I enjoy our working relationship because I know my jurisdiction. We will try to come up with the best team for the July 6 friendly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The following is the full squad, <\/strong><\/p>\n Goalkeepers Richard Chipuwa, Munthali, Nthala, MacDonald Harawa<\/p>\n Defenders <\/strong><\/p>\n Yamikani Fodya, Francis Mulimbika, Malata, Sankhani Mkandawire, Kabango, Sanudi, John Lanjesi and Peter Cholobi.<\/p>\n Midfielders <\/strong><\/p>\n Yamikani Chester, Dalitso Sailesi, Tambe, Phillip Masiye, Isaac Kaliati, Banda, John Banda and Fisher Kondowe.<\/p>\n Strikers <\/strong><\/p>\n Chiukepo Msowoya, Deus Mkutu, Tizgowere Kumwenda, Green Harawa and Zicco Nkanda<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Flames goalkeeper Simplex Nthala says he is delighted with the prospect of donning national team colours again when the Flames face Uganda next week. Nthala has been included in the 25-member squad by Flames interim coach Ernest Mtawali assembled in preparation for the independence celebrations friendly match against Uganda at Kamuzu Stadium on July 6. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5105,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5101"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5106,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5101\/revisions\/5106"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}