APR forward Victor Nyirenda and right back Elvis Kafoteka have been named in Malawi’s squad for this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.

The pair featured in last week’s 2-1 victory over Amavubi in Blantyre. According to reports, Kafoteka is expected to skipper the team, which is one of three guest sides in the two-week tournament. Ivory Coast and Zambia are the other guest sides.

Other players summoned by Flames coach Kinnah include MTL Wanderers captain Simplex Nthara, Escom United goaltender Charles Swini and Silver Strikers Amadu Ali.
Nyirenda will team up with Silver Strikers hit man Rodrick Gonani and Moyale’s Kelvin Katema upfront.

According to Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye, should a guest team win the event, it will only claim the prize money with the runner-up going on to claim the winners’ trophy.

In 2006, Zambia invited as guests alongside Malawi won the championship, but the actual trophy and prize money went to the finalists, Uganda’s Cranes.

At stake this year is $30, 000 for the winner, $20, 000 for first runner-up and $10, 000 for the third-placed side.

The grouping in the tournament is as follows: Group A: Zambia, Tanzania Mainland, Burundi, Somalia; Group B: Ivory Coast, Sudan, Zanzibar, Rwanda; Group C: Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Malawi.

Ends