Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says there will be no compensation for fired coach Patrick Mabedi whose contract has been terminated a year before it expires.
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 part ways with the tactician.
When asked if the association will compensate the tactician, who was getting K13 million per month, FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda said the association 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.
He 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 the former Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others in a plane crash in Nthungwa, 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, the Flames’ fate is sealed. However, Malawi is still in contention in 2026 World Cup qualification.
The Flames are fourth with six points in Group H, having won against Liberia and Sao Tome and Principe, but they lost to Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea.
But FAM in its statement on the coach’s firing said the decision was because of the Flames’ poor performance in 2025 Afcon.
“This is in line with resolutions of the FAM Emergency Committee held on 28th October 2024. The decision is based on the recommendations from the Technical Committee following the dismal performance of the Flames and subsequent failure to qualify for the Total Energies Afcon 2025,” the statement reads in part.
Mabedi has refused to comment on his firing, sparking speculation that the coach could be pondering on taking legal action against his former employers.
Football analyst George Chiusiwa has warned FAM that it risks another legal battle with the former coach for judging his performance against one target only.
He said: “Coaching the Flames is surely based on performance indicators that are ideally included in the employment contract with FAM. In the interest of fair labour practices, these performance targets are what should determine the firing or employment re-engagement.
“If Patrick Mabedi had three principal targets of 2025 Afcon qualification, a semi-final finish at the 2024 Cosafa Cup and second place finish in the World Cup group, then his sacking has nothing to do with the set employment agreement, but other factors that the football public may not know.”
Chiusiwa said FAM should have waited until the World Cup qualification concludes “or, at least, terminate the contract on mutual agreement”.
He said: “It would be strange and unfair to judge or assert the coach’s attainment of the performance targets in the Cosafa Cup tournament where the Flames withdrew from taking part.
“Additionally, the Malawi National Football Team is still in contention for the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualification and thus, it would be unjust to objectively measure the coach’s performance in 2025 Afcon qualification only as a failure or a success.
“What may be seen in this scenario is a case of FAM reacting to the public outcry over the team’s poor showing in the Afcon qualification campaign where the Flames have performed dismally.
“Under these circumstances, Mabedi is at liberty and is justified to seek remedy or the recourse of labour justice following his sacking if he opts to do so.”
The industrial court earlier this year ordered FAM to compensate former coach Meck Mwase for unfair dismissal.
