Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has come under pressure after opting to hire FCB Nyasa Big Bullets mentor Kalisto Pasuwa to head the Malawi Under-23 National Football Team technical panel.
Pasuwa is expected to take charge of the team during the Cosafa Cup in South Africa slated to kick off next month.
However, local coaches and analysts feel Fam should have advertised the post and appoint a coach who is currently unattached to avoid disrupting the league.
On Monday, Fam General Secretary Alfred Gunda told Times Radio that Pasuwa would travel to South Africa with the team but did not elaborate on the composition of the technical panel, insisting that the task would be done in due course.
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“As we normally do, we will come up with full names and the squad. We will only allow players who are not above 23 years to go and play at this year’s Cosafa tournament,” Gunda said.
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However, former Bullets coach Rodgers Yasin said Fam should have advertised the post externally to give an equal chance to the other local coaches.
“I am not happy with the way his [Pasuwa’s] appointment has been made. We also have coaches in the country who have a Caf A coaching licence. I would have loved it if they had been given a chance to apply for the job,” Yasin said.
Yasin denied that he had a personal vendetta against Pasuwa.
“I do not have any problem personally with Pasuwa but [I have a problem with] the procedure taken to hire him,” he said.
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Local football analyst Mathews Kimu Kamau also expressed discontent on the matter.
“Much as I appreciate that Pasuwa is good but I am of the view that other local coaches should have been given a chance.
“My understanding is that Pasuwa should, after coaching Zimbabwe National Football Team and now four-time champions with Bullets, should concentrate on qualifying for Caf group stages with his team after being knocked out in the preliminary round for the past four years,” Kamau said.
Former Fam executive member Julius Mithi described the issue as unfortunate.
“It is unprofessional and uncalled for. I do not believe that this is happening. If the manifesto of the current president stated that now we would be having national coaches for under-17, 20 and 23 teams with different panels, I see no reason for them to appoint Pasuwa, who has his own club [Bullets].
“Currently, Bullets is not doing well and I do not think the board can accept his appointment. We have so many local coaches who have not tasted the responsibility of coaching any national team but they are very good coaches. Let them appoint a local coach who has no club,” Mithi said.
Fam Technical Sub–committee Chairperson Madalitso Kuyera did not respond to our questionnaire.
National Football Coaches Association Chairperson Aubrey Nankhuni referred us to the association’s general secretary Dave Mpima.
“This is a matter concerning Fam; so, we cannot comment on the issue of our involvement,” Mpima said.
Pasuwa joined Bullets in 2018.
The Cosafa Cup is scheduled to run from June 14 to 25 in Durban, South Africa.
