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FAM clarifies RVG contract

 

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu has said results are key in Flames coach Ronny van Geneugden’s contract.

Nyamilandu was reacting to the coach’s claims that results are not a key priority but team building and creating a unique style of play for the long term.

“Performance of the national team is one of the key performance indicators [KIPs] and results, naturally, matter being the main thrust of his job.

RVG (L) stressing a point after being unveiled as Flames coach in April last year

“[Of course] Ronny, [in his interview with The Nation], has made reference to the fact that the contract has several KIPs, but he will be assessed on the basis of those factors which are weighed accordingly based on value contribution to the job he was assigned for,” he said.

On Friday,  Nyamilandu said the association’s executive committee will soon meet to review RVG’s performance.

He was responding to a question on whether the association feels RVG is on the right track following another Cosafa Cup disappointment.

In an exclusive interview with The Nation on Sunday, RVG said he is not losing sleep over continued criticism from some quarters regarding the Flames’ poor results, culminating in yet another early exit from the Cosafa Cup.

He said: “Have I failed?…I do not think so because when I signed a contract, it was about coming up with a project and that is a unique style of play which Malawi would be associated with from the junior teams right up to the senior team and I believe I am on the right track. That is why the Under-17 won bronze at the Cosafa Cup last year and the Under-20 team is on the verge of qualifying for the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

“I understand that there are some people who want instant results…they believe that I am not delivering, but that is normal in a democracy and that is the situation that you have to deal with in football.

“I have no problems that some people are negative towards me or that they are not patient because you must respect everybody’s opinion, but for me it is about achieving the long-term project as stipulated in my contract with FAM [Football Association of Malawi].”

The Belgian said building a national team is a process, which cannot be done overnight.

“Let me also clarify that I have not been in charge for 14 games but 11 from which we have won two, lost two and drawn the rest. Practically, I was not in charge of the first three games against Madagascar [twice in the Championship of Africa Nations] and Kenya because I did not select the players, it was done by other people.”

RVG has come under fire from some soccer followers following disappointing results within the one year that he has been in charge of the Flames, including failed successive Cosafa Cup campaigns.

Under his tutelage, the national team has won twice, drawn nine and lost four.

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