Government softens up on expat coach

Malawi government has softened up on hiring of an expatriate coach on condition that Football Association of Malawi (FAM) should embrace cost sharing.

But FAM president Walter Nyamilandu has said that situation would require the association to dig deeper into its coffers.

Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development spokesperson Christopher Mbukwa said in an interview that government is ready to employ any coach regardless of where he comes from.

He said: “The issue is resources and not where the coach comes from. FAM is supposed to take a lead in cutting costs on football matters because they well know what and when football events will occur and what it takes to build a national team. While government has powers to dictate how coaches should be hired, FAM is supposed to be the best adviser. If they are not sure then government will identify own resources to recruit coaches, government will commend them and support all teams expenses, like camping, allowances, bonuses, insurance and travel or participation.”direct the way. If FAM can

In response, FAM president Nyamilandu said the executive committee would consider all options when it meets on October 22.

“Expatriate coaches don’t come cheap. We will have to dig deeper into the coffers to afford one,” he said.

Over 50 expatriate coaches have applied for the Flames coaching job with five locals also showing interest.

FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said pouring resources from the association and government was a good idea.

However, Nyirenda said the setback is that the majority of expatriate coaches demand between $15 000 (about K10 million) and $50 000 (about K35 million) which is way above what Malawi government offers Flames coaches.

He said: “If you negotiate, some may go down to 12 000 dollars [about K8 million] which is just a bare minimum. But even at 12 000 dollars it is a lot of money to top up the $6 000 [about K4 million] that we pay our coaches.”

However, Nyirenda said the technical and youth subcommittee would consider the cost sharing when it meets this month before presenting its recommendations to the executive on October 22.

“We still have time between now and October 22. The technical subcommittee will not guided by anything. They are going to discuss the issue of Flames coaching job with a clear conscious,” he said.

Soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda noted that it was time for FAM to use its marketing department to find a sponsor for the national team coach.

“Government cannot do everything for the national team. Getting a corporate sponsor to subsidise the coach’s package is the best way to go,” he said.

Caretaker coach Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan’s one-month contract expires tomorrow after he led the Flames to a 1-0 victory over Swaziland. n

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