Nam yet to agree on coaches, Queens’ camping affected
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) executive committee at the weekend failed to resolve the impasse surrounding the hiring of Malawi Queens coach.
Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) faulted the manner in which NAM offered Peace Chawinga-Kalua and Mary Waya the positions of coach and assistant coach, respectively, saying proper procedures were not followed.
Chinunda also admitted that the situation will affect the Queens’ preparations for the Diamonds Challenge in South Africa at the end of this month as the team’s camping has been deferred to a later date within the week.
“We started the consultation process on the review of the coaches recruitment process as directed by Sports Council, but we are yet to reach a consensus. But we are hopeful of reaching an amicable solution in a few days time,” she said.
A well-placed source confided in The Nation that the NAM leadership is divided on who should take the mantle between Chawinga-Kalua and Waya.
“The decision as to who between the two [Chawinga-Kalua and Waya] should be the head coach was arrived through a vote after a lengthy argument between the two factions.
“Peace got more votes, but the other faction accepted the outcome reluctantly and it is believed that the move to annul the identification process was orchestrated by Waya’s sympathisers,” said the source who asked for anonymity.
However, Chinunda could not be drawn to comment on the issue, but Sports Council executive secretary George Jana said their directive was based on the advice which the council gave NAM last year on the recruitment process.
“I don’t know anything about the influence, suffice to say we were only following up on what we told them last year. The last time, we only allowed them because of the short period, but we advised them that next time, they would have to follow the right procedures.
“What we are saying is that this is a public office, it [the process] also allows the opportunity to select the best qualified coach and not emotional attachments such as voting,” said Jana.
He also said the results might not be different to the initial process, “but they should be seen to follow the right procedures.”
He said the position of national coach needs to have qualifications attached and some kind of job description.
Asked whether the timing was right considering that the team is supposed to go into camp, Jana said: “I do not know about the camp, but one person can be in charge temporarily so that the right process of identifying the national coach can continue.”
