With Football Association of Malawi (Fam) meeting on Saturday to decide on Malawi National Football Team’s next coach, reports suggest that the government has shot down the association’s proposal for hiring an expatriate trainer.
Minister of Youth, Sports, Labour and Manpower Development, Henry Mussa, referred Fam’s request for a 50-50 sharing of the expatriate coach’s perks to State President, Peter Mutharika, who according to sources, has dismissed the idea.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Simon Mbvundula and Director of Sports, Jameson Ndalama, were reluctant to comment on the matter whereas Fam General Secretary, Alfred Gunda, said he was in the dark about the government’s decision.
“At the moment, I have no information. The ministry asked for clarification on some issues and we submitted last week so we are waiting for the answer,” Gunda explained.
With pressure mounting and time ticking agonisingly towards grueling continental battles for the Flames, Fam President, Walter Nyamilandu, during the week confirmed that the association cannot wait any longer.
“We are hoping to make a decision at all cost. We do not have time. Everything is set. We are meeting at all cost,” Nyamilandu said when asked on what will happen if the meeting is postponed again as was the case a fortnight ago.
With the government’s latest stance, Fam might have to go for a readily available coach.
Some 60-plus local and foreign coaches submitted unsolicited applications to Fam for the position which fell vacant on July 31 2016 when Fam decided against extending Ernest Mtawali’s contract.
Fam might choose from the list of locals such as Yasin Osman, Gilbert Chirwa and Eddingtone Ng’onamo, who applied for the job.
Foreign trainers who are angling for the Flames job include Liverpool legend Bruce Globbelaar, Burkina Faso’s Portuguese Coach, Paulo Duarte, Scot Bobby Williamson, Zambian Honour Janza and Zimbabwean Calisto Pasuwa.
Pasuwa’s agent Gibson Mahachi confirmed to The Nation recently that Fam contacted his client who steered Zimbabwe to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Gabon.
In a telephone interview from his base in Canada, Globbelaar during the week explained why he thinks he is what the doctor ordered for the feeble Flames.
“My colleague forwarded my CV to Fam. If given the job my ambition is to try and get to them to 2019 Caf competition [Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals) and reach the final stages of 2022 World Cup,” said the man who works as Goalkeepers’ Coach and a Deputy Coach for Ottawa Fury FC, whose Head Coach is another Liverpool icon Paul Daglish.
“Malawian people deserve more. The Blantyre stadium used to be an all-weather stadium and I will restore that, even more considering that there is a new good stadium in Lilongwe. My aim is to set high standards of play for the team.”
Globbelaar, who also coached several South African Premiership sides, promised to instill in the Flames a winning mentality and philosophy owing to his vast experience.
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