Football Association of Malawi (FAM) risks another legal battle with a former Flames coach as Patrick Mabedi has hinted at dragging the association to court if he is not compensated.
The intention follows a decision by FAM to terminate Mabedi’s contract which expires in November 2025.
Unlike his predecessors who were redeployed to other duties within FAM to see off their contracts after being removed as Flames coach, FAM has opted entirely to part ways with the tactician.
Mabedi through his lawyer David Kanyenda confirmed they have asked FAM for compensation.
“We have received and accepted instructions from Mr Patrick Mabedi to represent him in respect of matters concerning his employment relationship with FAM,” said Kanyenda.
The lawyer said failure to compensate Mabedi will prompt them to sue FAM at the Industrial Relations Court.
He said: “Our client’s contract was due for expiration in November 2025. Unless FAM pays our client the salaries and fringe benefits for the remainder of the contract duration, we shall be left without a viable alternative apart from litigation in the labour tribunal, the Industrial Relations Court.”
Mabedi was getting K13 million salary per month besides the fringe benefits.
“Our preliminary computation shows that our client would have received a substantial amount running into several hundred million kwachas covering salaries and fringe benefits,” said Kanyenda.
But when asked if they will compensate Mabedi, FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda said the association will not do so because they activated an exit clause.
He said: “FAM had a contract with the coach and it is against the provisions of the contract and the exit clauses that we have reached the decision.”
Mabedi signed a two-year contract with FAM in October 2023 after serving as interim coach for five months.
Football analyst George Chiusiwa has warned FAM that it risks another legal battle with a former coach for judging his performance against one target only.
Mabedi was given targets to qualify for the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), reach the 2024 Cosafa Cup semi-finals and at least finish second in Fifa 2026 World Cup group L.
Malawi did not participate in Cosafa Cup in June as the nation was in mourning following the death of vice-president Saulos Chilima and eight others in a military plane crash in Thungwa, Nkhata Bay.
But the Flames are out of the 2024 Afcon qualification as they anchor Group L, having so far lost all their four matches against Burundi, Burkina Faso and twice to Senegal.
Even if they win their remaining two matches against Burundi and Burkina Faso, it will not make any difference.
However, Malawi is still in contention in the 2026 World Cup qualification.
The Flames are fourth in Group H with six points, having won against Liberia and Sao Tome and Principe, but lost to Equatorial Guinea.
The Industrial Relations Court earlier this year ordered FAM to compensate former coach Meck Mwase, who was also represented by Kanyenda, for unfair dismissal.
Another former coach Ernest Mtawali also successfully sued the association for unfair dismissal.
