One on One with Dan Chitsulo (Former Flames/Bundesliga star)

Dan Chitsulo is one of Malawi’s most successful soccer exports. He has played professional football in Germany for close to 10 years. Before going to Germany he used to play for Malawi’s CIVO United FC.

He last played for the Flames in the 1-3 loss to Botswana in June 2005. He still wants to play for the Flames. In 2008, after he was ignored by Constantine (Former Flames Coach) he wanted to know what “sin” he had committed. In 2004 Chitsulo was unvailable for the first leg (African Nations Cup) against Nigeria (Nigeria 1 Malawi 0) at the Kamuzu Stadium. When Gillet (the then Malawi Coach) was asked why Chitsulo wasn’t available he said it was a “political” thing which he did not want to concern himself with. What about now? I contacted Dan yesterday and below is how we conversed:

Is it true that when you were young you used to be a ball-boy in Zomba?
Yes I used to be a bolera in Zomba so I could watch the games for free.

Are you related to Silver Strikers’ Tony Chitsulo?
I met Tony Chitsulo when I was in Malawi. It seems we are not related but if we are then it’s not to my knowledge.

I know that most Malawians are fans of either one of the big clubs in Europe so don’t even front. Fan of?
Man U

Who is your favorite player?
Samuel Eto’o

Before the Flames left for Denmark on August 16, I understand you said you were ready to join them and the coach said that he wanted to assess you first. Did he contact you?
No. I wasn’t contacted even though the team was right here in Europe

I understand you are unattached and looking for a club? How do you go about looking for a club?
Yes I am unattached but I do train with some pros that are also unattached. My manager is the one looking for a club for me.

Any offers?
I did have some good offers but I couldn’t take them because of some private issues.

Since you are “unemployed” some people may wonder how you are paying bills. Do you have some other income?
Financially am in a good position because the government is paying me 70% of what I earned (unemployment benefits?) and they pay that for one year. Am sure I will get a good job before the one year expires.

Why not go back to Malawi and play for a local club?
Man, I have lived in Germany for 10 years and my wife to be is from Germany. We have been together for 7 years now. I have a lot of opportunities here. It’s not that I don’t like Malawi. The standard of football in the lower leagues here is far much better than that of the Super League in Malawi.

If a South African club wanted to sign you without trials would you join them?
If the situation allows I am sure there will be nothing to stop me from joining them because the league there is becoming stronger and stronger.

In Germany you played for Cologne (2nd Division), then VfL Osnabruck (2nd Division) and then lastly Weiss Ahlen (3rd Division) before being unattached. Was your form going down?
Correction, I played for Cologne reserves (3rd Division) and Vfl Osnabrück (2 Bundesliga) and Rot weiss ahlen (2 Bundesliga) so you can see that there was achievement. I was always in top form.

It seems the Flames coach relies on reports to call players for national duty. Since you are not playing don’t you think you are just wasting your time waiting for the coach or FAM to call you?
I will not mention names but there are some players who don’t have clubs but they are always included in the Flames’ call up. Why not me? Though I am unattached I am in Camp and I train twice everyday with some of the unattached players.

During most job interviews they ask the question: ”why should we hire you?” If the national coach asks you “why should we include you in the National Team?” what will your answer be?
I deserve to be part of the team because with my experience I can help a lot. The people must just have that trust in me.

Am sure you know why Esau Kanyenda quit the Flames. Would you have quit?
I believe that Esau quit because the respect he deserves was no longer there but myself I wouldn’t have quit. I would have sat down with the coach and take it up from there.

Are the Flames professional players better than the local players? How so?
Professional players are better because they have the experience that these local players don’t have.

Why are the Flames underperforming? Just unlucky?
The Flames are underperforming because we keep on changing players. You can not keep on changing players like a social team, but that is not my issue.

Any prediction for the Flames’ game this Saturday?
I will not make any prediction. However, I wish the Flames all the best of luck.

There you have it.