FAM cracks whip

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has barred three TNM Super League coaches from being in charge of their teams because they do not possess the required CAF B licenses.

The three are Bangwe All Stars’ Joseph Kamwendo, Extreme FC’s Elvis Kafoteka and Luka Milanzi of Karonga United.

That is not all.  It has  also slapped their respective clubs with K1 million fines for failing to inform FAM on the changes of their technical panel and use of unqualified coaches to be paid within seven days from August 9 2023.

In an interview yesterday, FAM club licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale said the three clubs were warned about the consequences of using under qualified coaches.

He said: “We wrote them and gave them up to the end of the first round to correct the situation, but they chose to ignore the advice.

“So, these coaches have been barred from being in charge of their respective teams and they will not be allowed to sit on the bench.”

Jangale said a CAF C license holder is not even required to be an assistant coach.

“But alternatively, they [teams] should have asked FAM to allow them a temporary arrangement to  have a CAF C license holder as an assistant coach,” he said.

In letters addressed to the three clubs, signed by general secretary Alfred Gunda, FAM states that the teams violated FAM club licensing regulations  Article 23 which states that they should appoint a head coach with a minimum of CAF B coaching qualification.

It further says all the three clubs did not inform FAM about the change of coaches.

“Further to that, you are being fined K1 million for failing to report to FAM of the change to the technical panel and use of an unqualified person. [The coach] is, with immediate effect, banned from sitting on the bench during competitive matches sanctioned by FAM, be it in the league or cup competitions.

“Continuous violation will attract further sanctions, the highest being revoking the license granted to participate in the 2023 football season.”

Milanzi could not be reached for comment, but Kamwendo was defiant in an interview yesterday insisting that he will continue coaching in the top-flight league.

He said: “It is very unfortunate that instead of protecting us and shaping our future, FAM is in the forefront frustrating us.

“Let them arrange a CAF B license so that we can upgrade. At the end of the day, if we are not being given an opportunity to coach here at home, where else are we going to coach?

“This is is very sad and I am very disappointed. They want us to be struggling then they are happy. FAM has used me for a long time, they need to be the first ones to protect me after all I have done for my country.”

On his part, Kafoteka said he is working as an assistant coach and not as head coach.

He said: “It’s news to me that I have been barred from coaching Extreme, but I was hired as an assistant coach and I still hold that position, but if that is the decision they [FAM] have taken, then it is fine since they are only applying the rules.”

Bangwe All Stars team manager Stevie Madeira said it is unfortunate that they have been punished when they were discussing the issue with FAM.

He said: “We actually met them last Friday and asked them to consider attaching Patricio Kulemeka to us since he has the required qualifications.

“It was not like Joseph would be there permanently. We are also wondering why they have taken action now when the other teams have had the under-qualified coaches for some time.

“It makes us suspect that they were probably targeting Joseph.”

On the way forward, Madeira said they are hoping that before their next league assignment against Blue Eagles in Lilongwe tomorrow, they would have concluded the issue of Kulemeka.

“Otherwise, it means we’ll play without  a coach,” he said.

On his part, Karonga United general secretary Ramzey Simwaka said they will appeal against FAM’s decision.

He said: “First and foremost, our head coach did not resign, so there is no way we could have hired another coach and FAM has acted based on speculation.

“Luka Milanzi was hired as an assistant coach and he is working as such.”

At the start of the season, Bangwe All Stars had Mabvuto Lungu as their head, who was replaced by Kamwendo recently while Ingwina Ya Karonga had Kondwa Ikwanga, who resigned.

Extreme FC had Joseph Mlamba and later on Joseph Malizani before roping in Kafoteka.