FAM summons Kinnah, Young

FAM has confirmed that all is not well behind the scenes between Flames coach Kinnah Phiri and his deputy Young Chimodzi, whom have since summoned for a meeting in Lilongwe on  Saturday in an attempt to resolve their differences.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) first vice-president Moses Mkandawire confirmed in an interview on Friday that the technical subcommittee, which he heads, is scheduled to mediate the fallout between Kinnah and Chimodzi.

Mkandawire also said during the meeting, the committee is expected to set targets for the coaching panel.

“Basically, one of the crucial issues we will look at is the relationship between the coach and his deputy because this might affect their performance,” said Mkandawire.

A well-placed source within the set-up confided in The Nation that the whole issue started during the negotiations for contract renewals.

“An official from Ministry of Youth and Sports [name withheld] approached Chimodzi and asked him if he were ready to take up the coaching job. Apparently, Chimodzi is reported to have refused on personal grounds.

“Kinnah got wind of it and he suspected foul play. It is the ministry officials fuelling the rivalry because Young did not have any hidden motive at all, but Kinnah did not take the issue lightly and that is why it was brought up at the recent executive committee meeting,” said the source.

However, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu could neither confirm nor deny the allegations.

“All I know is that the technical subcommittee is supposed to meet this weekend where, among other issues, they are expected to come up with targets for the coaching panel as agreed by the executive committee,” said Nyamilandu.

Kinnah, who is reported to have raised the issue during the FAM executive meeting, played down the issue last week.

On his part, Chimodzi confirmed hearing the reports from sources about his allegedly sabotaging Kinnah.

Commenting on the issue of targets, Mkandawire said: “The issue was also critical during the executive committee meeting and it was observed that the contracts cannot be an open cheque.”