Joseph Kamwendo has spoken of feeling betrayed that his fight for Flames players’ bonuses cost him the captaincy which former interim coach Tom Saintfiet stripped him of.
The Mozambique-based midfielder said this for the first time during the week, months after he protested FAM’s $10 000 promise to the Belgian coach for a win in September when players get a meagre K30 000 ($80) for a win.
“What was so sad was that even my own people, even in the technical panel were against me. I was the leader. If I had not spoken on behalf of the players, who else would? Anyway, I have nothing against anyone. It is water under the bridge. I have no hard feelings,” explained the Liga Maculmana player.
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had asked about his future in view of Saintfiet’s exit and the resignation of acting captain James Sangala last month. The Flames are also inactive until next year following the exhaustion of government funding.
“I reserved my comment as I did not want to look more important. I am like any other player. The coach said I was not in his game plan and I accepted that. I knew politics was at play.
“I have not said I have retired. If in the near future, I will be needed, I am available. I still have the energy. You can verify that,” said Kamwendo.
Another Flames senior player Robert Ng’ambi seemed to agree with Kamwendo on how negligence on players’ welfare undermines the national team form.
“Support to players is minimal. We just concentrate on performance on the pitch. We have good players, but they lack the right environment to deliver. There is also lack of continuity. We do not give players enough time to gel. We go for instant results. Since 2010, look at how many players have changed,” the South Africa-based player told Weekend Nation.
Commenting on what becomes of the Flames armband, FAM second vice-president and technical committee head Moses Mkandawire said the team still needs to tap from the experience of Kamwendo and Sangala.
But Mkandawire added that it would be incumbent on the next coach to consult players and others on who should be the captain.
