Black Leopards’ talented attacking midfielder Rafick Namwera has revealed what the club’s management told players ahead of the 2022/23 Motsepe Foundation Championship season.
The message has been received graciously, with the Malawian international saying ensuring the Lidoda Duvha’s DStv Premiership return next season is the players’ collective ambition.
The 29-year-old said management has made the entire squad appreciate that the second-tier club’s brand is big; hence, it deserves top-flight football.
“If we can build from where we finished last season, I am sure we can earn a promotion. Going to the PSL is my ambition, and I believe the ambition of all players because the chairman has made it clear that Leopards is a big brand that deserves to play in the PSL,” he tells FARPost.
The midfielder said he had found his feet at the Limpopo side, having joined late last season from Mighty Wanderers in Blantyre.
“I joined the team a bit late in the second round of last season due to work permit delays. There were 14 games to go. I featured in all 10 remaining games. We won seven, drew twice and lost once and ended up moving from the relegation spot of 16th place to finish on ninth place,” he tells FARPost.
Namwera was a key member of the Flames squad that qualified for Cameroon’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals. He has been capped 16 times.
Leopards chairman David Thidiela recently hailed Namwera as a quality player who makes a difference when he steps onto the pitch.
“Watching him in action, you can tell that he is an international player,” Thidiela told FARPost.
The midfielder played a starring role for Wanderers for three seasons leading them to several silverware.
He is the seventh Malawian to don the black and gold, following the footsteps of Harry Nyirenda, Allan Kamanga, Peter Mponda, Fischer Kondowe, Dave Banda, Robert Ng’ambi and Grant Lungu.
Namwera signed for Leopards late last year as a free agent after his contract at Wanderers expires.
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