Flames coach applications flow to FAM

Premature applications have reportedly started trickling in at the Chiwembe Technical Centre well before FAM advertises the vacancy for the Flames coach job.

On Tuesday, FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda confirmed that the advert was likely to be flighted in the local press before the end of the week.

“When Kinnah Phiri was removed, people applied and more are still applying. They read newspapers,” said Nyirenda.

He said they will treat equally new applicants and those who served in the Tom Saintfiet interim panel, namely Eddingtone Ng’onamo and Patrick Mabedi if they apply.

Coincidentally, FAM will advertise the Flames’ job at the same time CAF has put an International A Licence qualification as the minimum for national team coaches in Africa.

The Malawi National Coaches Committee membership records show that locally there is no A Licence holder. The records have 35 CAF B Licence holders and 17 others with equivalent international qualifications.

Saintfiet has a Pro Licence while his predecessor Kinnah has a B Licence.

But former Flames interim assistant coaches Mabedi and Mtawali said they have the A Licence which is a step before the highest coaching qualification—Professional (Pro) Licence.

“In Germany, I did B and A, I think it is me and Ernest Mtawali who have the International A Licence, if I am not wrong. Here in South Africa, I did CAF B, level one and two. Next year, I am finishing level 3. Now I am busy with International Pro which I do online and go for practicals in Europe next year,” said Mabedi who coaches Moroka Swallows youth team.

Mabedi and Mtawali graduated with a Uefa A Licence at Hennef, Germany last year. Mabedi attained the B Licence also in Germany while attached to the Flames then under Kinnah Phiri while Mtawali qualified for the B Licence at Lilleshall in England around 2008.

FAM wants a coach by end of January even though sponsors government is playing hide and seek on whether it will fund the position. The Ministry of Youth and Sports Principal Secretary Justin Saidi claims to have only heard about the coach’s issue in the press while FAM insist it wrote government over the same.