Mabedi disowns ‘fake’ Facebook account
Flames coach Patrick Mabedi has distanced himself from a Facebook page purportedly owned by him.
His concern comes two months after immediate-past Malawi National Football Team coach Mario Marinica also raised a similar concern.
The Facebook page has a wide range of posts allegedly from Mabedi commenting on South Africa-based forward Frank Gabadinho Mhango’s exclusion from the squad and the Flames in general.
The Flames gaffer is quoted by South African online publication SoccerLaduma as having said that he has taken up the issue with his lawyers in an effort to trace the culprits.
“Someone is impersonating me through this fake Facebook account. It is unfortunate that someone wants to tarnish my image,” he is quoted as having said.
Mabedi said he does not have any social media account.
“Please tell people and everyone that I don’t do social media. My lawyers are trying to contact Facebook administrators to track down these people,” he said.
Football Association of Malawi competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said it is unfortunate that “some unscrupulous people created this account that could put the coach in bad light”.
In an interview with The Nation two months ago, Mabedi’s predecessor Marinica said he believed the pages were created by people with ill motives.
He said: “It is very sad and unfortunate that some people are impersonating me through these fake Facebook accounts. They are out to tarnish my image.
“I do not have Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts and what is happening is putting me in bad light and I want to take up the issue with authorities.
“I just want to put the record straight that whatever is being posted is not coming from me.”
One of Marinica’s alleged posts was on July 12 2023 after the Flames qualified for the Cosafa Cup semi-finals and reads: “Mr Mabedi enjoying fruits of my labour. However, I congratulate him.”
In an interview then, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority spokesperson Wezzie Nkhoma-Somba said the first step would be for the aggrieved to take up the issue with the police.
