FAM sets targets for Flames coach
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has set 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification and reaching the Cosafa Cup final as the main targets for Flames coach Meck Mwase.
Upon his appointment last year, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said the association and government would come up with key performance indicators (KPIs) as part of his contract agreement.
But over seven months sincehis appointment, the coach is yet to put pen to paper and when asked how they would assess him, the FAM boss on Friday said Mwase’s contract duration is tied to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) “because that is when the matches will be played; hence, the main target is centred on qualifying for the tournament”.
He said: “During this period in time, we are [also] obviously looking at doing extremely well in the Cosafa Cup by, at least, reaching the final this time around.
“[And] Noting that the Cosafa tournament takes place in July, in the likely event of meeting these key performance indicators, the Flames will stand a good chance of performing well in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in which we are in the group of death after being pitted with Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Mozambique.”
And asked if the targets would be incorporated in the coach’s contract, Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture spokesperson Simon Mbvundula on Friday said that would be the responsibility of FAM.
“The coach was identified and recommended to us by FAM because he will be reporting to them. Government was only asked to provide financial resources.
“So, FAM would be in a better position to comment on that. Nevertheless, our expectation is that our [national] team should do well,” he said.
On his part, Mwase said the FAM president is yet to brief him about the set targets.
“Nevertheless, I know that the expectations are that the team should do well and by so doing, I will be meeting the targets.
“So, as much as it has not been made official, I am aware that ordinarily, those will be the targets.
“We have already started the task and I believe we are on course to meet the expectations,” said Mwase.
Currently, the Flames lie third in their Afcon Group B with three points from two matches, a point behind joint leaders Uganda and Burkina Faso, the group’s favourites.
South Sudan, who are bottom with no point, anchor the four-team group.
The Flames beat South Sudan’s Bright Stars 1-0 in their opening qualifier at home before going down 2-0 to Uganda’s Cranes in Kampala.
Mwase was in charge of the Under-23 and Under-20 teams before his appointment as Flames coach.
