The Football Association of Malawi on Tuesday announced a 34-man provisional squad for the upcoming COSAFA U-20 tournament in Zambia next month.
Nine of the players the Flames U-20 coach Peter Mponda has picked are from Nyasa Big Bullets, of which two are from the first team while seven are from the reserves.
From the first team, Mponda has called up into camp third choice goalkeeper Elias Missi and defending midfielder Aziz Mwakifuna, whereas Bullets reserves has contributed defender Blessings Mpokera; midfielders Auspicious Kadzogola, Franklin Titani, Patrick Mwaungulu, David Daudi and strikers Stanley Billiat and Lanjesi Nkhoma.
The team goes into camp on Wednesday to start preparing for the competition to be staged in Lusaka between December 4-14.
16 of the players called were part of the team that played during CAF Under 20 qualifiers and the 2018 COSAFA Youth Championship last year.
Malawi U-20 team manager Aubrey Nankhuni said the decision to include players who have been with the team for the past two years is part of FAM’s long-term player development process.
“We already have a pool of players who have been part of the system in the past two years and still qualify to take part in this year’s competition. So it was important to bring them back as we continue to build them for the future.
“But we have also brought in nine new players who have never been part of the setup but are good players who must try their luck,” he said.
