The Maravi Post

MZUZU--Revitalised Flames and Mighty Wanderers midfield star Joseph Kamwendo says he is keeping his fingers crossed and is sure he will make the grade in Thailand where he is undergoing trials with a so called Osotspa M-150 Saraburi FC.

Kamwendo, who was earlier linked with a move to a Turkish club, but later clarified that he was in Thailand, told a local newspaper in an interview that all was well and that he was inching closer to clinching a deal later this week.

“It is one of the big teams here in Thailand. I know Malawians are waiting for the good news and I can assure them that I will make it. I have never failed trials,” the natural left-footer who until last year was plying his trade at South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfit Orlando Pirates, is quoted by The Nation as saying from Thailand.

He added: “Everything is going on very well. Hopefully, I should clinch a deal later this week.”

Kamwendo rejoined his former local club Mighty Wanderers upon return from South Africa and his performance during last year’s Tusker East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup, where the Flames took part as guest participants, shone like a beacon and must have attracted the snooping eyes of scouts from Europe and other countries.

He said he and compatriot, Flames vice-captain Elvis Kafoteka, are working hard to impress so that they can clinch deals and re-launch their professional careers.

The midfielder played down fears from Flames coach Kinnah Phiri regarding his level of fitness ahead of next month’s 2012 Africa Cup of Nations second preliminary qualifier against Chad, saying he and Kafoteka are in great shape because they are not just sitting phwii!—It wasn't immediately known which club Kafoteka was undergoing trials with and for how long.

Meanwhile, Epac FC and TNM Super League leading goal-scorer Ishmael Thindwa, who left for trials with South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Mamelodi Sundowns last week, is reported to have made a promising start and has been named in Sundowns’ squad that is going to participate in a four-club tournament in Mpulamanga.

According to a report in The Daily Times of Tuesday, Epac administrator Roy Mdechi has been in touch with Thindwa’s agent who informed him that the lanky player was making progress at the two-week trials.
Mdechi said Thindwa was featured in Sundowns’ game against Black Aces which they won 2-1.

“He left on Tuesday and on Wednesday he had his first game. Sundowns played Mpumalanga Black Aces and he was featured.

“He did not score but had three good rocket shots at goal, two on target and one off target, but he played very well, that’s according to his agent Mr. T Riba,” Mdechi told the paper.

But even if the player makes the grade, the future looks misty as Sundowns have kept a low profile on their intentions considering that their foreign quota is full and they could be simply be playing games with the Malawian shooting star.

Under South Africa football regulations, a PSL club can register five foreigners. Sundowns already have Elias Pelembe from Mozambique, Nigerian Solomon Okpako and Zimbabweans Nyasha Mushekwi, Method Mwanjali and Simba Sithole.

Sundowns would have to off-load one of the foreign players to accommodate Thindwa if he were successful.
According to the Times, Sundowns technical director Trott Moloto, while confirming their interest in Thindwa, could not commit himself in the event the Malawian Super League top goal-scorer was impressive.

“Yes, we talked about a player from Malawi, but I cannot say whether he is here or not, or whether he is coming for trials, but yes we talked about that player,” Moloto is on record to have said in an interview with sports online publication Soccerladuma last week.
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