FAM’s move to engage an expatriate coach for the 2014 World Cup decisive qualifier against Nigeria’s Super Eagles will lead to the demotion of current caretaker coach Eddington Ng’onamo.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu on Monday revealed the identity of the prospective caretaker expatriate coach as former Nigeria technical director, and Zimbabwe and Namibia coach Tom Saintfiet.
Nyamilandu said Ng’onamo will deputise the Belgian tactician for the Abuja showdown against the Super Eagles slated for mid-September.
He disclosed that in view of the executive board’s decision, either one or both of Ng’onamo’s current deputies—Ernest Mtawali and Patrick Mabedi—will be dropped at a later stage due to financial constraints.
“The coach, who has volunteered to drill the Flames for free, is Tom Saintfiet. He has only asked us to pay for his travel from Belgium as well as his stay. He also wants a substantial appearance fee if we beat Nigeria.
“He believes he can guide the Flames to win against Nigeria because he was coach for Ethiopia when the Super Eagles scored a last-minute equaliser to force a draw during the 2012 Afcon qualifiers,” said Nyamilandu.
He said Saintfiet, who will take over from Ng’onamo after the Cosafa Tournament, wants FAM to use the Nigeria game as a test to offer him a permanent contract.
Ng’onamo said he had no problems with FAM’s decision and he is ready to work under an expatriate coach.
According to Wikipedia, the 40-year-old Saintfiet has coached in countries such as Belgium, Qatar, Germany, Faroe Islands, Finland and the Netherlands. He has also worked in Africa, becoming the head coach of Namibia, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia and then technical director (TD) for Nigeria.
In 2004, he coached the Qatar Under-17 team to third place in the AFC Asian Championships and qualified for the Under-17 Fifa World Championships.
However, it has not been plain sailing for Saintfiet whose brief stints in Zimbabwe and Nigeria ended in controversial circumstances.
He signed a four-year contract with Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) as national coach on 1 October 2010. In November, Zimbabwean immigration authorities refused him a work permit.
Last year, Saintfiet was named technical director of Nigeria and barely three months later, the Minister of Sports cancelled his appointment.
