Kaputa’s football revolution
In a move expected to redeem domestic football, over 20 coaches have been earmarked for permanent talent identification roles across Malawi to seal national teams’ selection loopholes.
Operating under the guidance of Football Association of Malawi (FAM) technical director John Kaputa’s office, regional coaches committees will establish their respective select sides ranging from senior team, Under-20, Under-17 categories under the leadership of the selected coaches.
The move is expected to reduce lack of systematic national team players’ selection and ease pressure for results on coaches, Kaputa confirmed last week. The Flames’ selection criteria raise eyebrows, especially when inactive players earn selection.
“I am putting up national structures for the next two years I am in office. This is the way things are supposed to be to ease pressure on coaches when asked to select national team players,” Kaputa said last Tuesday.
Southern Region Coaches Committee (SRCC) general secretary Aubrey Nankhuni and Central Region Coaches Committee (CRCC) spokesperson Millias Jegwe Pofera confirmed the news.
NRCC chairperson McNerbert Kadzuwa said they are yet to finalise the coaches’ short-list. Only players identified from these structures will earn national team selection.
Nankhuni confirmed that Flames’ assistant interim coach Eddington Ng’onamo has been earmarked as the region’s senior team coach with Red Lions’ Mike Kumanga as his deputy while McHodges Chunga is team manager.
“They will be reporting to the region’s overall coach Rodgers Yasini. Instructions came from the FAM technical director that these coaches should be scouting for talent. The selection criteria for national teams will now change. Players will not be coming straight from clubs,” Nankhuni explained last week.
According to Nankhuni, Bullets second in command, Lloyd Nkhwazi will head the Southern Region’s Under-23 coaching panel assisted by McDonald Mtetemela with Bob Mpinganjira and John Botomani as team manager and goalkeeper coach.
Still in the South, Trevor Kajawa will lead the Under-20 technical bench with Griffin Saenda as his right-hand man. Meke Mwase and Hertherwin Nkumbaleza are team manager and goalkeeper trainer respectively.
Nankhuni claimed that Azam Tigers’ Leo Mpulula will be in charge of the region’s Under-17 seconded by Blantyre United mentor Elia Kananji. Bullets veteran goalkeeper Swadick Sanudi is responsible for training goalies while Chancy Nsema is the manager.
“I am aware of this development and I am happy that I am [on the list]. It is a welcome development for Malawi football,” Kananji said on Thursday.
