Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has appointed FCB Nyasa Bullets coach Kallisto Pasuwa as Flames interim coach with his Silver Strikers and Moyale Barracks counterparts as his assistants.
A press statement issued by the association on Friday further states that former Flames coaches Kinnah Phiri and Young Chimodzi have been roped in as technical advisers.
Reads the statement: “Football Association of Malawi executive committee held a virtual meeting on 1st November 2024 where urgent issues that are fundamental to transforming on Friday game were discussed.
”The committee resolved to ratify the decision of the FAM Emergency Committee terminating the contract of the Senior Men’s National Football Coach [Patrick Mabedi], taken in line with provisions of Article 46 of FAM Statutes (2019).
“The committee resolved to approve the recommendation to appoint an interim technical panel comprising Kallisto Pasuwa as head of the technical panel, Peter Mponda as first assistant coach, Pritchard Mwansa as second assistant coach, Kinnah Phiri and Young Chimodzi as technical advisors.”
The statement says the appointments are with immediate effect “considering the upcoming engagements of the Flames”.
FAM says it was further resolved that engagements with Malawi National Council of Sports and Ministry of Youth and Sports should commence “immediately on the recruitment of the senior men’s national football coach’’.
Pasuwa could not be reached for his reaction on Friday, but Mponda confirmed having been approached.
“In principle, I would say I have accepted subject to an approval by my employers. So, in the event that my employers give the government a go-ahead, then I am game,” said the Silver gaffer , who will be having his second stint as Flames assistant coach.
Mwansa said he was yet to be officially informed about the development.
Reacting to Mponda’s appointment, Silver Strikers chief executive officer Patrick Chimimba said they have seen the development in the media, through the FAM statement.
He said: “We will engage the FAM on the matter as Silver Strikers FC is an important football stakeholder in Malawi, and we strongly believe that FAM will use the usual channels of communication to get to us and as employers of Mr. Peter Mponda.
“We believe that the football governing body has good reasons for making decisions that affect the national team and the FA has always respected the interests of clubs in making such decisions.”
Chimimba said they will officially engage with FAM on the issue “as we have always done before once they furnish us with the formal communication on this issue”.
On his part, Kinnah said he is ready and willing to play an advisory role.
“I will accept the role with both hands as it is my obligation to serve my nation,” he said.
The technical panel is expected to
oversee the remaining 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers which will be of academic interest as the Flames are out of contention having lost all their four games so far.
Meanwhile, FAM’s statement further says they have resolved that funds be disbursed to the recently-formed Eastern Region Football Association equivalent to what other regional associations get from FAM.
It further says the committee resolved to ratify the decision of FAM Emergency Committee to endorse the candidacy of Patrice Motsepe for the position of president of the Confederation of African Football.
