Indiscipline Rocking The Camp Of Flames Of Malawi

All is not well in the camp of Flames of Malawi as they prepare for what is most likely their last match in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying series. As they look forward to the game against Nigeria in Calabar next month, Malawian newspapers are agog with tales of Flames being rocked by indiscipline which had seen seven players dropped.

Among them are Simplex Nthala, midfielders Fischer Kandawe, Frank Banda, Young Chimodzi Junior as well as strikers Atusaye Nyondo and Gastin Simkanda. Nyasa Times reported that some of the players were involved in uncontrollable drinking spree, while others were sneaking women into the camp and were also openly smoking marijuana. The incidents took place while the team was featuring in regional Cosafa Cup which they also failed to win.

The Nyasa Times of Malawi named the boozing and womanizing players as Joseph Kamwendo, Chiukepo Msowoya, Frank Banda and Dagarous Chirambo. The newspaper gave the details of a night out incident involving the players who returned to their hotels drunk and in company of prostitutes.

When the security guards stopped the prostitutes, fearing they could rob or even harm the players, the latter resorted to violence that attracted their coach. According to the news report, Coach Tom Saintfiet demanded that the concerned players pay a fine of US$200 each and recommended to the football association further punishment. But the players refused to pay the fine, thus making FAM to deduct the fine from their game bonuses.

It was further reported that two other players even smuggled Zambian prostitutes into the team’s bus on their way to play against Angola. The prostitutes were given jerseys number 10 and 19. President of the football association, Walter Nyamilandu, reportedly 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.

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