Maduka harbours Flames ambitions
In a telephone interview from Durban, South Africa, Maduka on Tuesday said he wants to complete South Africa Football Association (Safa) Level Two coaching certificate.
“I did an introductory course, Level One and I am now on Level Two. I will be back in class on January 6 [today]. I did the first phase of level two. Now, I have four subjects to complete the course,” he said when asked about his New Year resolutions.
The former Silver Strikers striker added that his immediate focus is on delivering the goods in Free State town where he works as Bloemfontein Celtic team manager. His job involves planning for the team’s logistics and talent identification.
“My ambition is to coach Malawi in future or any team that would be interested in my services. I have to plough back to my country. Even if I do not coach, the knowledge I am gaining is vital for my career development,” he said.
Maduka, who retired in 2008 at Celtic, said he was hoping to be joined in class by his Lilongwe childhood friend Billy Kamlanje. Kamlanje, now based in Durban, is a former Blue Eagles and Civo United defender.
During his national team career that spanned 16 years, Maduka at one time was coached by Dane Kim Splidsboel, who did not doubt Maduka’s coaching potential.
“His leadership is super. Tactically, he is also good. John [Maduka] could be a future Malawi coach,” Splidsboel said in an e-mailed response [Thursday] about the Maduka who also played for a Norwegian side, Zimbabwe’s Black Aces and South Africa’s Thanda Zulu Royal and Umtata Bush Bucks.
FAM earmarked Maduka and Patrick Mabedi to be part of the Flames coaching panel, but it was only the latter that showed up thrice for the role.
Maduka said he was preoccupied at Celtic. While coaching clubs in South Africa earns more, those who have managed national teams before are more respected.
