FAM, Sports council meet on Flames coach

Football Association of Malawio (FAM) and Malawi National Council of Sports yesterday held a preliminary meeting on the prospect of hiring the next Flames coach.

FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda and Sports Council executive secretary George Jana confirmed the meeting.

Said Nyirenda: “We had our first meeting this morning and it went on very well. However, I cannot disclose what we discussed at this stage, let us give a chance to the process.

“The take-off was quite good though and we are hoping to make lots of progress as we go along.”

However, the FAM CEO could not say when they anticipate to have a new coach in place.

Jana said: “It was just a preliminary meeting in which they were briefing us about their plans to hire another coach.

“So, we cannot talk much suffice to say they [FAM] have to discuss the issue further.”

Meanwhile, FAM has said they are in the process of arranging an international friendly match against Zimbabwe’s Warriors on January 4 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Nyirenda said should the Warriors confirm the match, then technical director John Kaputa will take charge of the team on temporary basis.

FAM wanted a new coach in place by January next year to start preparing for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, but the process could take longer than anticipated.

FAM had approached Zimbabwe and Mozambique for friendly matches, but it would appear the Mambas have settled for Angola’s Neglas Palancas.