Scorchers trace players in diaspora

UNDER SPOTLIGHT—Okafor in action

By Mphatso Malidadi & Peter Fote:

For ages, men’s football has failed to woo a lot of foreign-based players with Malawian origins to don Flames colours.

However, that is not the case with women’s football as efforts are being made to lure such talent to star for the Cosafa Women’s champions, The Scorchers, Malawi News Sport can reveal.

Following the success of the Malawi Women’s National Football Team at last year’s Cosafa Women’s Championship where they emerged winners, some female foreign based players have emerged and are expressing hope to play for the Scorchers.

United States of America duo attacker Chioma Okafor and defender Asante Khamula have caught the attention of the country.

National Women’s Football Association (NWFA) Chairperson Adellaide Migogo has contacted both individually and parents of the two, coaxing them to be ready for the Scorchers.

“We need to expand our catchment area. Both players are willing to play for the Scorchers. My mission is to make Malawi women’s football great not only in Southern Africa but beyond,” Migogo said.

However, she insisted that the two players will not be imposed on Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili, saying the 2023 Malawi Sport Awards Coach of the Year holds the last decision.

“My job is simply facilitating discussions so that we should not miss talent. However, the decision for a call-up and inclusion into the squad remains with the coach. In the meantime, I am tracking other players,” she said.

Much as the Scorchers need reinforcement, Fazili said he was treading cautiously.

“If we are to compete with the best we need the best players. We have top players too but we need depth to stand against big teams. However, each player must meet the grade to be in the squad,” Fazili said.

The former Flames forward said it was not the first that he heard about Okafor.

“My fellow coach Maggie Chombo introduced the player to me last year when she brought some videos. Due to a tight budget, I did not include her in the squad. However, I would love to assess both players,” the former Silver Strikers forward said.

Currently, Okafor, 20, who was born to a Malawian mother and Nigeria father, left Malawi in 2019 and she is presently playing at the University of Connecticut.

She is the team’s leading scorer with 13 games. She played for Berkshire School between 2019 and 2022, scoring 45 goals across two seasons.

Okafor said her decision to play for the Scorchers was circumstantial, without elaborating.

“But my plan after college is to play professionally,” Okafor, who is majoring in Finance and Computer Science, said in a brief response.

On the other hand, last year, Khamula, 20, moved from Loughborough College Seniors (UK) to Washington Adventist University (USA) where she is studying psychology.

According to her father, Gray Khamula, who is from Bvumbwe, Thyolo, Asante intends to play for the Scorchers.

“Asante would like to represent her country one day,” he said.

Asante started playing football at the age of eight before signing for Nottingham at 10 years.

She then signed for Derby Country at 16 years before rejoining Nottingham.

Women’s football is steadily growing in the country with two flag carriers, Chawinga sisters- Temwa and Tabitha, playing overseas.

Tabitha joined Paris Saint- Germain) Féminines in France on a year-long loan transfer deal from Wuhan Jiangda in China whereas her youngster sister Temwa signed a two-year contract with Kansas City Current (US) from Wuhan