Flames coaches yet to sign contracts

Flames coaches Young Chimodzi and Jack Chamangwana are yet to sign their new two-year contracts’ with FAM and government.

FAM president Walter Nyamilandu on Monday insisted that the coaches would sign the contracts by the end of the week and attributed the delays to their busy schedule with the national team.

“They are in progress. Their contracts expired in July and they will be renewed from August 1, so they will be paid in arrears. The matter is with the ministry since they [coaches] are hired as civil servants. There is nothing serious,” explained Nyamilandu on Monday.

The coaches were tasked with qualifying for the Nations Cup, as among the targets. The new deal, Nyamilandu noted, would be improved. He added: “We agreed after the Ethiopia game that this week, the contracts be signed.”

The two coaches have in 11 games of all competitions won three; all in competitive games that have enabled the Flames to sail past the first and second rounds and now into the group stages of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

On Tuesday, director of sports Jameson Ndalama noted that while issues of the coaches’ assessment are for FAM, he was impressed by the coaches’ performance, “we can see the results.”

“There is progress on the issue of the contracts. FAM submitted their proposal such as conditions of service and also some changes. We also sent the proposal for our superiors’ approval and we are waiting,” Ndalama said.

Chamangwana and Chimodzi served in the Kinnah Phiri coaching team as technical adviser and deputy coach respectively, and were later redeployed as sports officer in January 2013.

FAM recalled the duo last May after the departure of freelance coach Tom Saintfiet.

On Monday, Chamangwana said they were still waiting for the new contracts.