Gerald Phiri lands job in eSwatini
Former Blue Eagles coach Gerald Phiri Senior has been appointed as head coach for eSwatini top flight club Nsingizini Hotspurs.
The eSwatini club was interested in former Flames coach Meck Mwase but he did not accept the offer. Hotspurs unveiled Phiri, having sealed two-year deal, on their official website on Thursday.
“Welcome to Nsingizini HotSpurs FC coach Gerald Phiri Senior,” reads part of the communication of the club’s official website.
The Malawian is already in eSwatini to start preparations for the new season which starts next month.
Phiri Senior also confirmed.
“It feels great to join Nsingizini. The club has great ambitions and I am looking forward to the new season,” Phiri said.
The team’s marketing and communications director Mphikileli Dlamini told The eSwatini Observer that they were happy to appoint Phiri.
“We have decided to rope in Phiri due to his coaching experience and knowledge. He is a coach whose style of play fits our philosophy,” Dlamini was quoted as saying.
Tobias Ntuli, who is currently drilling the team, will be Phiri’s assistant.
The club is set to compete in the eSwatini top flight league and has also applied for a name change from Nsingizini Hotspurs to Shooting Stars ahead of the new season.
Phiri was without a club after parting ways with Eagles at the end of last season.
He was only in-charge of Eagles for one season as the club survived relegation after beating Mighty Mukuru Wanderers 3-1 in their last match of the season.
Former Flames midfielder Sherry Msuku said Phiri would succeed in eSwatini.
“This is good news for him and the country. He is one of the best coaches in Malawi and I am sure he will deliver in eSwatini,” Msuku said.
His track record includes coaching Malawi national football team. He once signed a one-year contract as Flames coach but was demoted to the position of assistant after Football Association of Malawi (Fam) hired Belgian coach Ronny Van Geneugden in 2017.
In addition, he also served as Malawi Under-20 National Football Team coach that failed to win a single match, let alone score a goal at 2016 Cosafa Cup in South Africa.
Apart from coaching Eagles, Phiri also coached several local clubs including Nyasa Big Bullets, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Mighty Tigers.
