Malawi winger Gerald Phiri Junior has announced his retirement from international football hours after his axing from the final squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
Malawi interim coach Mario Marinica excluded the Sudan’s Al-Hilal player from the final 23-member squad released on Friday ahead of the Group B AFCON matches against Zimbabwe, Senegal and Guinea in Cameroon.
In reaction, the former South Africa’s Baroka player released a statement through his management firm Siyavuma Sports’ official Paul Mitchell that the Al-Hilal’s new signing had called it quits.
“Having deliberated the decision overnight, discussing it with myself and his family, Gerald has made the decision to retire from international football with immediate effect and return to Al-Hilal as soon as possible to prepare for the upcoming seasin and the CAF Champions League,” Mitchell wrote.
Phiri was the leading scorer for the Flames in the AFCON qualifiers and had established himself as a set-piece specialist.
He signed for Al-Hilal months ago from Baroka FC in South Africa.
He made his debut for Malawi in 2015 at the Cosafa Cup held in South Africa.
Four years later, the towering player was named Cosafa Player of the Year also in South Africa after also emerging as top scorer while then on loan at Ajax Cape Town where he was on loan from Bidvest Wits.
The 28-year-old is the son of former Malawian international and senior national team coach Gerald Phiri Senior.
He launched his professional career at Mighty Wanderers in Malawi before signing for Caps United in Zimbabwe then Wits during which time he spent loans at Platinum Stars (SA) and Township Rollers (Botswana).
Phiri has been the biggest casualty of the Romanian Marinica, who is in charge of the Flames at AFCON following the demotion of Meck Mwase. Phiri Junior was dropped from the squad alongside second-choice goalkeeper Brighton Munthali.
Marinica told Football Association of Malawi (FAM) website the players he had selected were grasping the playing philosophy he wants executed at AFCON.
“First and foremost, I would like as much as possible to implement the philosophy of playing fast and very fast, thinking fast, acting fast and moving fast, being well prepared and organised. I hope that will be carried through. This will be well organised when we have our friendly matches and also when we have official matches in AFCON,” he is quoted saying.
Marinica has also named three uncapped players—Charles Thom, Lawrence Chaziya and Zebron Kalima—in the squad despite that they have never had a taste of international football going into AFCON.
He justified his decision to selected the uncapped players for a tournament of such magnitude.
About 19 players in the final 23 are in Saudi Arabia where the team is having a 10-day pre-AFCON camp while goalkeeper Charles Thom, defender Gomezgani Chirwa and midfielder Chimwemwe Idana ,who are in Malawi , will fly straight to Cameroun.
Tanzania-based winger Peter Banda will also join the team in Cameroon as he has club engagements on New Year’s Day.
The Flames are in group B alongside Guinea, Senegal and Zimbabwe and will play their first match against Guinea on Monday January 10, 2022.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Ernest Kakhobwe (Nyasa Big Bullets), William Thole (Be Forward Wanderers), Charles Thom (Silver Strikers)
Defenders: Limbikani Mzava (Amazulu), Dennis Chembezi (Polokwane City), Gomezgani Chirwa (Nyasa Big Bullets), Lawrence Chaziya (Civo Sporting), Mark Fodya (Silver Strikers), Stanley Sanudi, Peter Cholopi (Be Forward Wanderers)
Midfielders: John Banda (UD Songo), Charles Petro (Sheriff Tiraspol), Chimwemwe Idana (Nyasa Big Bullets), Chikoti Chirwa (Red Lions), Micium Mhone (Blue Eagles)
Wingers: Robin Ngalande (St George), Yamikani Chester (Be Forward Wanderers), Fransisco Madinga (FC Dilla Gori), Peter Banda (Simba Sporting Club), Zebron Kalima (Silver Strikers)
Strikers:Richard Mbulu (Baroka FC), Khuda Muyaba (Polokwane City) Gabadinho Mhango (Orlando Pirates)