Some 20 expatriate coaches are knocking on Football Association of Malawi’s (Fam) door, sniffing at the Malawi National Football Team coaching job.
The post will become vacant on August 1 when out-going Ernest Mtawali’s tenure ends.
Fam General Secretary, Suzgo Nyirenda, confirmed to have received unsolicited applications and inquiries from coaches from around the world. The association has not advertised the post.
“I have received a number of enquirers and CVs from some notable foreign coaches although it will be premature to disclose their names at the moment considering that the contract of the current coach is still running up until 31st July 2016. I have received close to 20 CVs,” Nyirenda explained.
Hiring an expatriate coach comes at a cost and Fam has not decided whether to listen to the foreign applicants.
“On the issue regarding employing an expatriate coach as a long-term plan, I expect this matter to be discussed at the next Executive Committee meeting slated for 23rd July 2016,” Nyirenda added.
“It is at this meeting that the issue of the coach will be thoroughly discussed and recommendations will be made. The idea to employ an expatriate or local coach will definitely be discussed and full [sic] details will be communicated thereafter.”
The Daily Times has established from sources that Scottish coach Bobby Williamson, a four-time Cecafa Cup winner with Uganda’s Cranes, is among the interested ones
Currently, Mtawali’s deputy Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan will, in interim capacity, oversee the last game of the botched up 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Group L qualifier against Swaziland on September 3 at Kamuzu Stadium.
However, there is debate on whether Fam should indeed go for a foreign coach considering that most expatriates—save for Ted Powell who won the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup in 1978 and 1979—have never succeeded with the Flames and government does not have money to pay such experts.
Locals Kinnah Phiri and late Henry Moyo steered the Flames to 1984 and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations—a bigger achievement compared to winning regional showpieces—respectively.
Benjamin Kumwenda, National Coaches Association General Secretary, said due to lack of sufficient funding to enable the hiring of an expatriate, Fam should go for a local coach such as Young Chimodzi and Kinnah. Chimodzi was fired last June.
“These coaches were fired but they have proved themselves wherever they are. Silver Strikers is performing under Chimodzi and Kinnah has been a success at Mbeya City Council FC in Tanzania,” Kumwenda insisted.
As a long-term solution, Kumwenda said there was need to develop Under-15, 17 and 19 national teams to groom players that can eventually graduate into the Flames.
In a separate interview, Kinnah said he deserves another Flames chance as he has proved himself at Mbeya which he inherited while in relegation zone but steered them into the top-eight position last season.
“If the Flames need me, I am a Malawian. I know that I have been there before, but there is always a second chance. I think I am the only one who has never been given a second chance in the Flames,” Kinnah explained.
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