Dressed in a dark blue jacket, checked shirt and showing no emotions, Malawi National Football Team’s new Coach, Ronny van Geneugden, finally jetted in last evening.
However, upon arrival at Chileka Airport in Blantyre, the towering Belgian, seemingly under orders from Football Association of Malawi (Fam) officials, was elusive to grant an interview.
“[It feels] very good. We will speak normally on Saturday,” he said.
Further asked as to whether it was his first time coming to Malawi, he said: “First time… very nice. The people are very nice. Thank you very much.”
Fam General Secretary, Alfred Gunda, then whisked the Belgian away to a waiting car before driving him off.
Gunda, too, simply gave a ‘no’ nod when asked for an interview. Earlier, the association had kept the media guessing on the coach’s arrival time.
Reports had suggested that the coach would arrive at noon then it changed to 3 pm before he arrived at 6 pm aboard Malawian Airline Boeing 737-800.
Van Geneugden arrived alongside a man who is believed to be his Scotland based Spanish agent, Antonio Carlo Cabrela.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Fam will unveil the coach tomorrow. The former Belgium’s Genk coach will take over from Gerald Phiri Senior as Head Coach of the Flames.
Malawi squad of home based players is in camp ahead of the trip to Madagascar for the African Nations Championship qualifiers.
The Flames, who will host Madagascar in the second leg at the end of April, will stop over in Kenya for a friendly on April 18.
Said to be a no nonsense coach, van Geneugden was recently among the favourites for South Africa’s Orlando Pirates coaching job.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that he has never coached a national team let alone in Africa.
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