Opportunity for youngsters to shine for Flames in friendly match

By Antony Isaiah Jr:……

Flames Head Coach, Mario Marian Marinica has hinted that he may feature uncapped youngsters in today’s friendly game against Lesotho.

The Flames will this afternoon face Lesotho at the Bingu National Stadium as part of preparations for the upcoming back to back Africa Cup Of Nations qualifiers against Egypt in March.

Coach Mario Marinica assembled a squad of locally based players a majority of which are earning their first senior national team call up.

Civil Service United defender, Kelvin Kadzinje, Nyasa Big Bullets midfield duo of Chawanangwa Gumbo and Frank Willard, Mphatso Kamanga could make their first appearance in red-black-green colours [with the senior team] this afternoon at Bingu National Stadium.

“We have an eye for the future so you may be surprised to see some younger players,” Marinica told FAM media.

However, the Romanian said there were big challenges in their preparations as some clubs failed to release their players timely.

“We understand this because there is no international window,” said Marinica. “The game is a great opportunity to calibrate our squad, review our playing philosophy and set up a platform for the Egypt game approach. As usual, regardless of our opponents, we will approach the match to win.”

Flames have been struggling to beat The Likuena [Crocodile] of Lesotho in their recent outings and a friendly game which kicks off at 1500HRS CAT renders Marinica’s boys an opportunity to stage a revenge as Cosafa Cup 2-1 defeat memories are still fresh.

Two of their three recent friendly meetings ended in [ 1-1] stalemate and Lesotho beat Flames 1-0 in 2016.