Gerald Phiri Snr in Eagles nest
Newly appointed Blue Eagles Coach Gerald Phiri Senior has vowed to revive the winning mentality as he treks in unfamiliar territory whereby he will lead a policemen side for the first time.
Eagles announced the appointment of Phiri Snr as head coach on Sunday night, replacing Deklerk Msakakuona who was named Malawi Under-17 National Football Team Coach.
The former Nyasa Big Bullets, Be Forward Wanderers and Mighty Tigers mentor said his first assignment was to bring back the winning spirit among the players as the club had collected five points from four matches.
“I would want to emphasise that my task is to win matches at Blue Eagles. The team has got good players but they are not doing enough on the pitch. I will make sure that we bring the winning mentality and remain a club to reckon with,” Phiri Snr said.
The former striker for defunct MDC United and Railways United joins the 2019 Fisd Challenge Cup champions with the combination of experience and qualifications, having coached some of Malawi’s top clubs.
In 2012, he won the Presidential Cup as assistant to coach Eddington Ng’onamo at Bullets.
In 2017, he was given a one-year contract by the Football Association of Malawi to become an interim coach for the senior national team but his journey was cut short by his employers who opted for an expatriate coach.
He stepped down as Tigers coach earlier this year after he got concerned with the players’ welfare at the club.
According to a statement released by the Area 30-based side, Phiri underwent a successful interview on December 9 2020 at the team’s headquarters in Nankhaka, Lilongwe.
“Blue Eagles Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Gerald Phiri as Head Coach with immediate effect,” reads a statement which the club’s chairperson Alexander Ngwala signed.
The statement also indicates that the appointment will see Christopher Sibale and Wilson Chidati continue serving as assistant coaches to Phiri.
Phiri’s first assignment will be the match against TN Stars at Kasungu Stadium on Sunday.
