Flames players dropped off Rwanda’s game due misconduct in Zambia last month

The dropping of some of the national team players in the Flames squad against Rwanda has just open a can of worms with revelations confirming that the players were initially dropped following a gross misconduct while in Zambia for Cosafa Cup last month.

Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president, Walter Nyamilandu and Sports Council executive secretary, George Jana have since confirmed the issue.

One of the players who was part of Cosafa entourage disclosed to Nyasa Times in detail of what happened when the Flames were in Zambia, revealing that some of the players were in involving in uncontrollable drinking spree as well as sneaking women in their hotels rooms and openly smoking marijuana.

Of all the professional players included in the Cosafa Cup squad, it has been noted, it was only James Sangala who maintained discipline and remained in his room all the time his colleagues were sneaking out for booze or hooking errands.

Flames players sneaked in hotel rooms with women for sex

Flames players sneaked in hotel rooms with women for sex

“One night, some of our guys including Joseph Kamwendo, Chiukepo Msowoya, Frank Banda, Dagarous Chirambo among others went out boozing, upon return, four of them came along with women but were denied entry by the hotel’s reception.

“An argument erupted between the players and hotel’s guards who were refusing to allow the women to be sneaked into the rooms. Initially, the guards were concerned about the safety as they feared the women could be thieves. A fight nearly ensued when one of the players pushed a guard on the ground, who quickly pointed out his gun before coach, who had waked up following the noise, intervened,” revealed the player.

Following the incident, Coach Tom Saintfiet demanded that the concerned players should pay a fine of US$200 each and recommended to FAM for further punishment. But the players refused to pay the fine, which has forced FAM to deduct the fine from their game bonuses.

There are pictures of some of the incidents that happened at the team’s hotel rooms. Some of the players were smoking Chamba openly. And the some of the officials who were part of the trip are suspected to have been involved some of the scandals after two Zambian women were found in Flames bus.

“There were two Zambian women in the team bus on our way to the game against Angola. How they got in and who they were with we don’t know. But they were given two team jerseys; number 10 and 19. Nothing has been said or done about that, which leads to the suspicion that the officials know something”.

Saintfiet told the local media on Tuesday that meanwhile the matter concerning some of the players’ behaviour in Zambia has been taken up by FAM and Sports Council.

“Some players were involved in serious disciplinary issues, but we are treating it as a father and son issue. Suffice to say discipline is of paramount importance and we are not going to compromise on issues of discipline,” said Saintfeit.

And Nyamilandu described the players’ conduct as, embarrassing, shameful and unacceptable.

“Allowances were deducted from the players that were involved and we proceeded to write them warning letters,” said Nyamilandu.

Depleted Flames squad

Meanwhile the Flame will miss the services of key players when they face Rwanda on Wednesday after five players failed to travel to Kigali.

The Flames will be without captain Joseph Kamwendo, Platinum Stars midfielder Robert Ng’ambi, defender Foster Namwela and strikers Chiukepo Msowoya and Esau Kanyenda amidst allegations of players’ protest over the behaviour of coach Saintfiet.

The last time the two sides met Rwanda beat Malawi 2-0 at Cecafa 2012 tournament in Uganda.

Malawi are preparing for away game against Nigeria in the crucial World Cup qualifier on September 7.-NyasaTimes