The Maravi Post

LILONGWE--Nothing can be so disappointing. Reports from South Africa indicate that Flames veteran striker Esau Kanyenda failed to impress and clinch a deal at Premier Soccer League (PSL) side AmaZulu.

The Malawian striker has been training with the KZN-based outfit in an attempt to resurrect his career in the PSL after playing professional soccer for 10 years in Russia. But according to soccerladuma.co.za, the former Jomo Cosmos player failed to convince the AmaZulu technical team for a contract at the club due to player’s fitness levels which were adjudged to be below standard, much to the dissatisfaction of AmaZulu coach Roger Palmgren.

The Usuthu gave the player his final chance to impress in a friendly game played against Thanda Royal Zulu last weekend. AmaZulu are looking for a striker after they parted ways with former Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs striker Stanton Lewis. Former Moroka Swallows coach Gordon Igesund wanted to sign him for the Birds during his time at the club, in the 2011/12 season.

However, because Kanyenda was still contracted to another club, Swallows did not want to pay for his transfer and decided against signing him. Kanyenda had a short stint with Danish East Second Division side B1893 in May this year where he was offered a short-term contract where he helped the team escape relegation.

He came back in June hoping he would be offered a long-term deal when the team meets for pre-season this month, but there has been no news to that effect so far. Maybe it’s time the Black Mamba accepted that age has taken its toll on him and that he no longer carries the venom that made him a deadly striker in his heady days.

He should accept that when the sun rises, it will surely go down. That is the painful reality of life. Meanwhile, another beleaguered Flames striker, Russell Mwafulirwa, is reported to have flown back to Sweden where he hopes to rejoin his
former club IFK Norrkoping FC. The Nation reported on Friday that the lanky forward could not be reached for confirmation, but quoted Flames coach Kinnah Phiri as saying he received a text message from the player informing him of the development.

“Russell sent me a text a few days ago informing me that he was back in Sweden where he is planning to rejoin his former team. He indicated that he would update me with more details at a later stage,” the paper quoted Kinnah as saying. Mwafulirwa move to rejoin his former South African club Jomo Cosmos fell through recently as he had difficulties obtaining a permanent residence permit.