AzamTigers hire coach Gerald Phiri

Azam Tigers have hired Gerald Phiri as new head coach after the former Mighty Wanderers and Big Bullets mentor convinced the Kau Kau that he is the right man to replenish their empty trophy cabinet.
The former national team and MDC United goal-poacher is yet to win silverware in his young coaching career, but his insight of the game and rich resume that include Uefa and FAM coaching badges swayed the Tigers interviewing panel chaired by Tigers technical director Robin Alufandika.
“We went through his CV and the panel is happy with him. We had several people who applied for the job, but opted for Papa. He is on a three-year contract and the target is that he must finish in the top three of the Super League and win at least one or two cups,” Alufandika explained on Friday.
Phiri will work alongside Chikaiko Bridge who was in charge of the team in the absence of Frank Franco Ndawa whose engagements with the Flames at team manager cost him the Kau Kau job despite taking them to the 2014 Standard Bank Knockout Trophy final and finishing eighth in the league.

 
Speaking from Zimbabwe where he is on private business, Phiri yesterday said he was not aware that he succeeded during the interviews; “hence, it is news to me. It will be difficult for me to comment.”
Phiri’s last job was at Wanderers last season, having crossed the floor from Bullets the previous year. He resigned following a string of poor results that had some Nomads fans demanding his exit.
Last year, Phiri also served as deputy Malawi Under-20 national team coach; hence, he will re-unite with some of the junior Flames players at Tigers such as Isaac Kaliyati, Boston Kabango and Stanley Sanudi.
National Coaches Committee (NCC) official Davie Mpima, speaking in general last week, said Malawi has good coaches, but teams want quick results, adding: “The biggest challenge facing Malawi football coaches is the procedure of signing of contracts with football clubs. It looks that most of the coaches do not have contracts.”