Meck calm with Uganda coach sacking

The Flames coach Meck Mwase says the sacking of Uganda coach Johnny McKinstry will not have any impact on his team’s preparations for their Africa Cup of Nations tie on March 29 against the Cranes in Blantyre.

According to BBC, Uganda Football Federation (Fufa) told the Irishman to step aside, but did not give details about the action.

Reads the statement: “In the meantime, assistant coaches Mr. Mubiru Abdallah, Mr. Mbabazi Livingstone and goalkeeping coach Mr. Kajoba Fred will take charge of the team during this period.

“The rest of the technical team remains unchanged. Fufa will use the period to assess and monitor the performance of the team.”

However, Mwase said with or without a coach, Malawi have a mission to accomplish.

He said: “We just need to concentrate on our preparation to see how we can beat them rather thinking of the coach.  It is the players that are going to play not the coach.”

Football analyst Kevin Moyo also said the departure of the Uganda coach should not make the Flames to relax.

He said: “The stepping down of the Cranes coach will not have on impact on the forthcoming encounter against the flames. The assistant coaches, who are now in charge of the team, have been part and parcel of coach Jonathan McKinstry technical team; hence, have the knowledge of his technical approach.”

On his part, football analyst Higger Mkandawire cautioned the Flames “not to read too much into what is happening in their opponents’ camp”.

“They should concentrate on their game-plan so that they should qualify. The group is still open, mainly between Flames and Cranes. If Meck can play his cards properly with his troops, we can win,” he said.

Mkandawire, who is a former Nyasa Big Bullets general secretary, also said the Uganda coach’s suspension might not be based on performance.

He said: “He has been in charge of 14 games winning nine with two draws and three losses, which shows that he is still a good coach.

“The problem with most African teams is when a head coach is not taking executive committee’s instructions, that coach is always being pushed, they want to feature their own players. Johnathan can be one of the victims of how African teams are being managed.”