FDH Bank Premiership side Creck Sporting Club yesterday unveiled former Flames coach Ernest Mtawali as their new head coach.
The Lilongwe-based outfit announced Mtawali’s hiring just hours after firing Eliya Kananji, assistant coach Harrison Saidi and data analyst and physical trainer Blessings Tembo.
Creck Sporting general secretary Aaron Mtaya in an interview said they have confidence in Mtawali who emerged successful after interviews.
He said: “We received a number of applications from several coaches. After thorough scrutiny, we were impressed with his track record and we believe he will help the team perform well.
“We have not given him targets, but we just want to see the improvement of the team that can compete in the league.
“We want to move from the relegation danger. We want the investment in the team should be reciprocated on the field.”
In an interview, Mtawali said he was excited to coach a topflight league for the first time.
He said: “Creck Sporting Club have a big project and are an ambitious club. I know they started badly this year. But with the crop of players they have the team will improve.”
Mtawali also thanked Kananji for building a good foundation for the team.
He said: “I was fortunate to attend the first session this morning and the team is okay. Coach Eliya Kananji has built a good foundation.
“It was just bad luck that the team didn’t perform well. Psychologically, the players are down, but the quality is there.”
Meanwhile, Kananji in an interview yesterday also said the team’s fortunes are about to turn.
He said: “Last season we managed to finish in the top eight. Of course, we did not start the season well. But this was because we lost some players. We also beefed up the squad and the players that we signed were yet to adapt.
“I expected things to improve in the coming games because the team has now jellied. Anyway, the owners of the team have made a decision and we have to accept it.”
Creck are rooted at the bottom of the 16-team FDH Bank Premiership table after collecting just two points from a possible 18 in six matches.
They drew against Mafco and Red Lions but lost four against Blue Eagles, Moyale Barracks, Kamuzu Barracks and Mighty Wanderers.
Mtawali played for Bloemfontein Celtic, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, Newell Old Boys in Argentina and Toulese in France.
As a coach, he was first in charge of the Malawi Under-20 National Football team before he was appointed Flames coach.
His assignment will be an Airtel Top 8 quarter-finals first leg against Mighty Wanderers on Sunday.
