Inside the magnificent Mpira Village boardroom, Football Association of Malawi (Fam) supremo, Walter Nyamilandu, and his politburo will, once again, be confronted by decision-making task on July 23.
Nyamilandu and his board have to decide on the identity of the next coach for the world’s 133rd ranked national football team, the Flames.
The association has to hire a 17th coach in 16 years for the team that has not won any silverware since 1988. Fam General Secretary, Suzgo Nyirenda, confirmed about the forthcoming meeting.
“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 coach or local coach will definitely be discussed,” Nyirenda said.
For Fam the question is not only about replacing Ernest Mtawali, whose term of office runs its course on July 31, but get someone who would better the outgoing coach’s run of six defeats, five wins and four draws.
In Nyirenda’s in-tray, there are some 20 unsolicited application letters and CVs, mostly from foreign coaches.
In the team’s history, only Wonder Morreira and Ted Powell were successful foreign coaches having reached the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup final and won it, respectively. The rest found the football climate too harsh.
For a change, Fam must first get right the definition of who qualifies to be a national team coach.
Then the association needs to define the type of a coach is suitable for the sick team, then delve into debate on whether to go for a local or foreigner.
It will not be an easy decision for Fam because they have to get a coach who can work in a set-up where there are no clear player-development structures, incentives and facilities.
So, where does that ready-made quality required for the team come from? Whatever the case, the next coach will be asked if he is up to the task, he will accept the targets, struggle, complain and be fired.
The latest fall from 107 to 133 in the Fifa rankings for July simply confirms that the team is on a free-fall.
Clubs no longer compete on the international stage. Junior teams are ad-hoc arrangements, whereas top-flight league standards have refused to grow.
It is estimated that a foreign coach roughly needs six months to appreciate a new country’s football set-up.
And quality coaches do not come cheap.
Frenchman Herve Renard’s monthly salary for the Chipolopolo was, according to Zambia media reports, in the range of K10 million (US$15,000) to K17 million (US$25,000).
Having won the Africa Cup of Nations championship with Cote d’Ivoire and Zambia, Renard’s value has risen. His salary with Morocco National Team is now K43 million, an amount which Fam struggles to raise for mere Flames’ air tickets.
However, do not rule out Fam being tempted by cheap foreign coaches from the streets of Europe. Coaching jobs are hard to come by these days.
Many highly qualified coaches with Pro-Licences are looking for jobs, so expect them to sweet- talk their way into the Flames’ job while looking to enrich their CVs.
Once they start working, the harsh reality of a poor work environment confronts them. Suddenly, they realise there is no money for friendly games.
Enter option two for Fam. The option of locals can only lead to recycled ones. But very few locals receive support and incentives.
Additionally, while they are experienced and qualified, most home trainers lack tactical nous, discipline (they are morally bankrupt) and character required at the highest level of coaching.
Studying the opposition, analysing and reacting to opposing teams’ tactics is a challenge for locals.
Fam has a very difficult choice. Going back to the basics, developing a group of young coaches, administrators, referees and players, improving the youth football structure and infrastructure with a view to holistically groom an entire future Flames would be an ideal situation.
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