Flames coaching panel reshuffled
Flames coach Patrick Mabedi has reshuffled his technical panel, but has maintained the bulk of the backroom staff he appointed last year when he was named the team’s head coach.
Major changes in the panel include the coming in of assistant coach Charles Kamanga replacing Deklerk Msakakuona.
Mabedi in an interview said Kamanga was supposed to be in the technical panel last year but was not available.
“As you know, he works with the Malawi Defence Force. So he was away on a peacekeeping mission [in the Democratic Republic of Congo]. Now that he is back, he has joined us,” he said.
Former Silver Strikers midfielder Taonga Chimodzi has been appointed as data analyst, a position that was previously vacant.
On the other hand, former FCB Nyasa Big Bullets midfielder James Chilapondwa has also been roped in as assistant technical support manager. He replaces Stevie Madeira.
Eliya Kananji has retained his position as second assistant coach while Victor Mphande is goalkeepers’ trainer.
Peter Mgangira is physical fitness trainer while Dexter Killi is the team’s physiotherapist.
National Football Coaches Association chairperson Aubrey Nankhuni has also been maintained as technical adviser while former international, now a trained pastor Chancy Gondwe, is the team’s chaplain.
Richard Justin, popularly known as Dinho, is the national team’s equipment manager.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi has also announced the new under-20 national football team technical panel.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers legend Bob Mpinganjira is the new head coach and he replaces Mabedi who relinquished the position after his appointment as Flames head coach.
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources FC coach Milias Pofera has been appointed first assistant coach while the Bullets Reserves’ Enos Chatama is second assistant coach.
McDonald Yobe has been appointed fitness trainer while Nicholas Mhango is the team manager.
Vincent Gona is the goalkeepers’ trainer while Audlow Mason Makonyola is technical adviser. The team doctor is Victor Jobo.
FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the changes have been done to strengthen the technical panels.
Both the Flames and the Under-20 national team are expected to go into camp today in preparation for a tournament which will also involve neighbouring Zambia’s Chipolopolo, the Harambee Stars of Kenya and Zimbabwe’s Warriors, at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe during the Fifa international break window from March 18-26.
