Flames still exist, says FAM veep

With the mandate of caretaker coaching panel over, interim captain James Sangala ‘resigning’ and skipper Joseph Kamwendo deposed, it might be hard to imagine the Flames still exist.

But FAM technical committee chairperson Moses Mkandawire on Wednesday said the resignation and the absence of a few people does not render the Flames non-existent as many players make up the team.

“Soon we will have a meeting with the technical committee to discuss some of the challenges in terms of the technical approach and administratively in the way we have administered players and the way the players have looked at the coaches, then we will submit a report to FAM executive which meets in October,” said the FAM vice-president.

He could not explain why his committee, also comprising John Kaputa, Professor Al Mtenje, Pikawo Ngalamila and Alick Tahuna, had not yet met when the Flames next assignment comes four months from now.

“As for Sangala, we have not received his resignation letter and my personal view is that we need him, Kamwendo and Simplex Nthala for there to be proper transition,” Mkandawire argued.

Earlier, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu told Radio 2 FM that the Flames would have a coach in view of the end of the tenure of caretaker coaches Tom Saintfiet, Eddington Ng’onamo and Patrick Mabedi.

Government says FAM exhausted its annual cake catering for the national team and that money meant for national team coaches goes into salaries for redeployed panel of Kinnah Phiri and Young Chimodzi and ex-technical director Jack Chamangwana now working as regional development officers.

The Flames exited the 2014 World Cup qualifying race on September 7 in Nigeria where they lost 2-0.