By Imam Wali, Williams Gondwa & Richard Chirombo:
TNM Super League clubs have started engaging coaches for their teams in preparation for the new season, which kicks off in April.
This comes in the wake of Football Association of Malawi’s announcement that the 2024 season will commence on April 7.
Some of the teams that have already brought in new coaches are Moyale Barracks and Dedza Dynamos while Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have appointed football legend Yasin Osman to head a technical committee that will hire a coach to succeed Mark Harrison.
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Dedza have already roped in Andrew Bunya as their head coach on a two-year contract.
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Bunya, 44, has replaced Gilbert Chirwa, whose contract was not renewed after it expired in December.
Dedza Technical Director Massa Kalamula said Bunya is the right man for the job as he is familiar with the team’s philosophy.
“Bunya knows what our team believes in and will easily fit into our system. He is a man from Dedza and knows and understands our expectations. We therefore believe that he will deliver,” Kalamula said.
Bunya said he is excited to take up the challenge.
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“Dedza Dynamos is a club with huge potential to do well in both cup and league competitions. It also has a fantastic community supporting it. I am therefore very excited to be part of its plans and ambitions.
“Being someone from Dedza, I have seen the establishment and growth of the team each passing day and I know the high standards that are on demand. So in short, I should say I am ready,” he said.
Bunya joins Dedza from relegated Extreme FC and holds a Caf B coaching licence.
He also founded Dedza Young Soccer in 2002 and inspired it to TNM Super League promotion in 2015.
Moyale have also announced the return of Pritchard Mwansa as head coach, with Charles Kamanga and Victor Chingoka assisting him.
Meanwhile, relegated TNM Super League side Blue Eagles are assured of their coach Eliya Kananji’s services as they campaign for a return to the top flight in the second tier Chipiku Central Region Football Association League Premier Division.
Kananji has said he will honour his contract with the Malawi Police Service club despite being linked with a return to Mighty Mukuru Wanderers following the departure of Mark Harrison.
Some reports were also linking him with a move to Dedza Dynamos as a replacement for Gilbert Chirwa, who left the club in December last year.
Kananji said he has a year left on his contract with Eagles after joining from Civil Service United in 2022.
“Indeed, a lot has been said about my next destination. I am aware of several reports that have been making rounds. But I have a season remaining on my contract. So I am still around to see out my contract,” he said.
Kananji said it is possible for Eagles to return to the Super League in the 2025 season.
“All we need to do is to keep our players. We need to have a strong squad,” he said.
The former Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, Blantyre United and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets coach will be hoping that MacDonald Lameck and Christopher Gototo, who are now at Silver Strikers, will be the only star players to leave Area 30.
Eagles were relegated after finishing the 2023 season third from bottom with 32 points from 30 matches and were tied with Moyale, who survived through the head-to-head rule.
