Malawi Women’s National Football Team Coach Lovemore Fazili has underscored the significance of the team’s two international friendly matches against the Copper Queens of Zambia.
The Scorchers are set to travel in three camps, with the first delegation of two officials and five players expected to leave the country today for Zambia.
The second delegation of three officials and 11 players is scheduled to depart for the neighbouring country Wednesday, with the final group of three players and six officials expected to leave the country on Thursday.
The Scorchers are expected to date the Copper Queens of Zambia at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka on Saturday and Tuesday, February 25.
Currently, Fazili has received a timely boost following the arrival of United States of America-based forward Temwa Chawinga Monday and Democratic Republic of Congo duo of Sabina Thom and Chimwemwe Madise.
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The other foreign country-based players— including Tabitha Chawinga, Rose Kabzere, Vanessa Chikupira and Bernadette Mkandawire— are expected to fly directly to Lusaka from their bases.
The delegation of Malawi-based players and officials and three foreign country-based players who are in the country will leave for Lusaka on Tuesday morning and are expected to be joined by four other foreign country-based players who will fly directly from their bases.
Fazili said he had named a strong 23-member squad as the match was crucial ahead of next year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifier against either Zimbabwe or Angola.
“The matches are very important for Malawi as they will give us a chance to gauge our strength. The coming in of foreign country-based players is also a morale booster to the team as we have not played together as a team.
“Matches like these are very important because we, as Scorchers, rarely have friendly matches,” Fazili said.
The Scorchers progressed to the next round after their initial opponents, Congo, were banned.
Meanwhile, National Women’s Football Association Chairperson Adellaide Migogo has hailed Football Association of Malawi for arranging the friendlies.
“We, as Scorchers, rarely meet and this is a rare opportunity for the team to develop cohesion. We, as a team, need more of the friendly matches to improve,” she said.
The full squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Mercy Sikelo (Kukoma Ntopwa women), Yamikani Kaonga (MDF Lioness),
Defenders: Chimwemwe Madise (TP Mazembe), Benadetta Mkandawire (FC BIIK-Kazygurt), Ireen Khumalo (Silver Strikers Ladies), Rose Alufandika (Kukoma Ntopwa women), Maggie Chavula (Ascent Academy), Maureen Kenneth (Ascent Academy) Tamala Simeza (Blue Eagles Ladies)
Midfielders: Rose Kabzere (Montpellier), Vannessa Chikupira (FC BIIK-Kazygurt), (Faith Chimzimu (Ascent Academy), Letticia Chinyamula (Ascent Academy), Caroline Mathyola, (Silver Strikers Ladies), Tendai Sani (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women), Zainab Kapanda (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women), Funny Magombo (Kukoma Ntopwa women), Sarah Mulimbika (Ndirande Soccer Giants)
Strikers: Tabitha Chawinga (Olympique Lyonnais Féminin) Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current) Sabina Thom (TP Mazembe) Catherine Kachala (MDF Lionesses), Chisomo Banda (Silver Strikers Ladies).
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