The Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Technical Sub-committee is expected to meet this weekend to make recommendations on the recruitment of a Flames permanent coach.
This comes at a time Flames locally-based players are preparing to take part in 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) play-offs next month.
Fam General Secretary Alfred Gunda confirmed that the meeting for the technical sub-committee would come up with recommendations, among other things.
“They will make recommendations to the Executive Committee, which will make a final decision on the matter,” Gunda said.
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Fam’s first quarter executive committee meeting is scheduled for next month.
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However, Fam Technical Sub-committee Chairperson Madalitso Kuyera, who is also the association’s vice president, was not readily available for his comment Tuesday.
The meeting comes a few weeks after National Football Coaches Association (NFCA) recommended FCB Nyasa Big Bullets former mentor Kalisto Pasuwa for the position.
The coaches’ body recommended new Bullets coach Peter Mponda and Moyale Barracks gaffer Pritchard Mwansa as the coach-designate’s assistants.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers former coach Alex Ngwira and Creck Sporting Club former coach MacDonald Mtetemera are some of the names earmarked for the post of Flames coach.
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Recently, the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) gave Fam the freedom to finalise recruitment processes for the hiring of a permanent Flames coach.
However, the Ministry of Youth and Sports advised Fam that it was the association’s responsibility to sign contracts with the Flames coach.
Ministry of Youth and Sports spokesperson Macmillan Mwale said this in a statement released on Thursday.
The statement was released after separate meetings with Fam and Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) officials.
“The ministry’s stand is that Fam should be signing contracts with national team coaches directly. Government can be supporting through grants that go to the association,” Mwale said.
The position of Flames coach fell vacant after Fam fired Patrick Mabedi due to poor results in all competitions.
Pasuwa, who took over from Mabedi, impressed as interim coach after guiding the Flames to a goal-less draw with Burundi and 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso.
Eventually, the Flames finished Group L of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals with four points from six matches.
Meanwhile, sports analyst Parry Chinyama has urged Fam to cast the net wider.
“Fam should make a thorough assessment before appointing the coach to avoid past mistakes,” he said.
The Flames side for locally-based players will play in the Chan play offs against Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, Gambia, Gabon and Comoros.
Thereafter, Malawi will face Namibia in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in March.
