Flames coach Mario Marinica is disappointed with some clubs for delaying to release their players to camp for next month’s back-to-back 2023 Afcon qualifying matches against Egypt.

He expressed his worry yesterday after noting that half of the 26 locally-based players are yet to return to camp.

Marinica: We have big challenges

The players took a break to join their clubs in pre-season training, but three days after the national team resumed camp, 13 players have not returned.

Marinica wanted all the local-based players back in camp between February 14 and 24 with plans to have a friendly match against Lesotho at the end of this month and more tune-ups in Saudi Arabia ahead of the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying clashes against Egypt on March 20 and 28.

However, the Romanian said he understands the clubs as there is no international window, which can make them cling to their charges.

He said: “We have big challenges on our preparations as some clubs have not released their players. We understand this because there is no international window.

“We are talking with the clubs and we hope to come to a mutual conclusion soon. So, the moment we have a group of players in camp, we will play our friendly against Lesotho, which will help in terms of match fitness and assist us to select players that will go for further tune-ups in Saudi Arabia.”

Marinica added that he is also worried that the position of some players called into camp is not clear.

“Some players also do not have their statuses clarified. They are either outside the country or have not finalised their transfers. This is also affecting our preparations,” he said.

While the coach could not disclose the names of the clubs that are clinging on to their players, The Nation has established that Mighty Mukuru Wanderers is one of the culprits.

The Nomads contributed five players to the Flames squad, namely striker Chiukepo Msowoya, midfielder Gaddie Chirwa, defenders Miracle Gabeya, Stanley Sanudi and Lawrence Chaziya.

But in an interview yesterday, Wanderers board secretary Chancy Gondwe said they already agreed with the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) that they will delay to release their players for camp.

“We already agreed with FAM on that. It was a mutual arrangement between FAM and Wanderers. We agreed on when to release our players and they are aware of that arrangement,” he said.

According to an inside source, Wanderers have intensified their pre-season training with their new expatriate coach Mark Harrison wishing to thoroughly assess all his charges through various ways, including a training match they had against their reserve side on Wednesday.

“Wanderers will only release their players on Sunday after their other training match on that day,” the source said.

The post Marinica disappointed with club over players first appeared on The Nation Online.

The post Marinica disappointed with club over players appeared first on The Nation Online.