Malawi coaches fail to make it across the borders
Malawi has over 50 highly qualified football coaches, but they lack ambition and boldness to coach in foreign land when fired locally, Weekend Nation has established.
We wanted to find out why since independence only Kinnah Phiri, Jack Chamangwana, Kannock Munde, Prince Mkandawire and the late Reuben Malola were brave enough to go and coach clubs in Swaziland, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Kenya respectively.
Contrary to perceptions that there are few qualified trainers locally, the National Coaches Committee general secretary Charles Manda on Monday said there were 35 CAF B Licence holders and 17 others with international qualifications equivalent to the same which certifies one to coach across Africa.
“It is just fear of the unknown. Maybe as an association, we need to establish a network in the region; otherwise, looking at costs, it is difficult for a coach to go outside the country looking for a job,” explained Manda who is a CAF coaches’ trainer.
The likes of Kinnah Phiri, John Kaputa and Eddingtone Ng’onamo possess the international B paper and also attempted to undergo the A Licence, which is a step behind the world’s highest coach badge—Professional Licence. In Europe, only Pro Licence holders manage top clubs.
Coaching in other countries enriched coaches’ knowledge which could in turn benefit the local league and the Flames, noted Chamangwana who managed Young Africans (Yanga) in Tanzania, winning several trophies with them at the turn of the century.
“I think there is lack of confidence among local coaches. You gain a lot of experience handling different teams in a different culture. Maybe football agents should also extend to coaches and link them to foreign clubs,” said Chamangwana, who also coached Kaizer Chiefs and M’mabatho Kicks.
Zambian and Zimbabwean coaches have been to clubs across southern Africa. Zimbabwean Rahman Gumbo coached Mighty Wanderers.
Former Flames coach Tom Saintfiet cited lack of self-belief as a psychological setback for Malawi football.
Local scout Kondi Msungama blamed it on timidity which characterises most Malawians, saying local coaches are qualified, “but put the papers under their pillows and wait for someone to knock on their doors. I cannot go door to door hunting for them.”
Apart from timidity, it could be tough for local coaches to attract foreign clubs as most ventured into coaching courses without names as top players, Civo United general secretary Rashid Ntelela suggested on Tuesday.
Msungama further blamed it on the collapse of the domestic football standards which results in lack of exposure. But FAM president Walter Nyamilandu insisted that “if you are good enough it does not matter which league you come from.”
Last weekend, FAM annual general meeting in Salima reportedly also expressed concerns that if local coaches cannot attract foreign clubs, it is a bad sign, according to Nyamilandu.
