Malawi national football team coach Mario Marian Marinica has called 26 players to start pre-camp fitness sessions in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu.
The coach says the aim of the sessions is to help the players regain match fitness.
“As you know, the 2022 season concluded on December 17 with Airtel Top 8 final as the last match. However, most of the players stopped playing way back in October. This is a major concern for us as well as the fitness of the international players.You have to bear in mind that science has proved that after 10 to 14 days of inactivity, players could reduce 10 to 15 percent of their strength. And also, one month of what we call de-training, lung capacity could be reduced by 20 to 25 percent. What is worse is that two to three weeks after stopping training, players are losing match fitness,’’ the Romanian is quoted.
Marinica said the Flames cannot afford to be inactive as their opponents are gearing up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
He said: “This exercise is very important because we are looking at our competitors. For example, Ethiopia are already in camp and they will have friendly matches; one on January 14, another one on January 17 and another on January 21. We cannot afford to slip behind.”
Blantyre squad has Mighty Mukuru Wanderers players Stanley Sanudi, Chiukepo Msowoya, Gaddie Chirwa, Muhammed Sulumba, Miracle Gabeya and Yamikani Chester and Nyasa Big Bullets players Clever Mkungula, Gomezgani Chirwa, Blessings Mpokera, Alick Lungu, Chimwemwe Idana, Patrick Mwaungulu and Precious Sambani.
They will undergo the training under the supervision of Marinica, Flames assistant coach Patrick Mabedi, Under-17 fitness trainer Chimwemwe Nkhoma and Southern Region coach Patricio Kulemeka.
Charles Thom, Nickson Mwase and Stenie Davie for Silver Strikers, Micium Mhone, Gilbert Chirwa, Schumacher Kuwali, Brighton Munthali (Blue Eagles), Kelvin Kadzinje (Civil Service) and unattached Lawrence Chaziya will undergo the exercise in Lilongwe under Flames fitness trainer Chikondi Mandalasi, Under-20 fitness trainer Andrew Mtalimanja and Central Region coach McWilliams Nkunika.
Paul Ndlovu (Mafco) will be training at his base Malawi Armed Forces College while Dan Chimbalanga (Mafco) will do it in Dedza.
Red Lions’ Chikoti Chirwa will undergo the fitness sessions at his base Cobbe Barracks in Zomba while Moyale Barracks’ Lloyd Njaliwa will do it at his base in Mzuzu under Flames assistant coach Victor Mphande, beach soccer fitness trainer Dexter Kili and Northern Region coach Robert Mziza.
Marinica has also called Under-20 and Under-23 players Joshua Waka Innocent Makawano, Festus Duwe and Loyd Alone from Lilongwe, Chawanangwa Gumbo from Blantyre and Chimwemwe Nkhoma from Mzuzu.
