Injured Mafco players out of hospital
Three Mafco FC players, who were hospitalized in Nkhotakota following the road accident that claimed lives of three other footballers on Thursday (August 22, 2013) night have been discharged from hospital.
The three- Gift Soko, Cyrus Phiri and Jimmy Nzunga, who sustained minor injuries during the accident were held at Alinafe Hospital in Nkhotakota for treatment and observation before being discharged Friday evening.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda confirmed the development in an interview with Nyasa Times, saying he had talked to the players, whom he said were all fine.
Meanwhile, the body of one of the deceased players Chifunilo Phiri will be laid to rest Saturday (August 24, 2013) at Bua in Nkhotakota and not Kasungu as earlier communicated by Mafco Football Club.
According to the club’s officials, relatives of the deceased player have decided that he be buried at Bua, where his late father was also laid to rest. The player was the worst affected by the accident and it is reported that he was fast asleep during the time of the accident.
Bodies for the two other players- Sadan Mangwere and Gift Mphonde will be buried in Zomba as announced.
Apparently, reports from Nkhotakota say the players, who were chased from camp after going for a drinking binge ahead of the club’s weekend league assignments that have since been postponed were also spotted drinking beer at Nkhotakota boma before proceeding with their journey.
The players had boarded a truck carrying sugar from Dwangwa Sugar Factory, which over-turned near Benga as the driver lost control while trying to avoid a stationery vehicle which had experienced a breakdown along the Nkhotakota-Salima Lakeshore road.
The driver reportedly escaped unhurt and is being kept at Nkhotakota Police for questioning while his assistant died on the spot.
