Malawi National Football Team interim coach Patrick Mabedi has settled for Blue Eagles mentor Elia Kananji and Silver Strikers assistant coach Peter Mgangira to join his backroom staff.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) placed Mabedi on the hot seat last month after deciding against renewing Romanian coach Mario Marinica’s contract.
The country’s football governing body gave Mabedi the freedom to choose his backroom staff after working with Marinica as one of his assistants.
Inside sources at Fam said Kananji has been appointed as assistant coach whereas Mgangira is physical trainer.
Meanwhile, Mabedi has maintained goalkeepers’ trainer Victor Mphande and physiotherapist Chikondi Mandalasi.
Reports suggest that Steve Madeira is also part of the backroom staff as team manager.
Fam Technical Subcommittee chairperson Othaniel Hara, who is also the association’s second vice president, declined to comment on the matter, saying Mabedi himself will unveil his backroom staff in due course.
“I cannot disclose names of any member of Mabedi’s backroom staff. The coach himself will do so once everything is finalised. For now, he is still working on the announce the names soon,’’ Hara said. names. He should be able to
Kananji, a Caf B coaching licence holder, has vast experience having coached both Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and FCB Nyasa Bullets.
He remains the only coach to have won the defunct Carlsberg Cup with both teams.
Last season, Kananji guided Eagles to position two in the TNM Super League with 63 points, 10 points behind champions Bullets.
Mabedi will be hoping to reunite with Mgangira after working with him at the Malawi Under-20 National Football Team.
The first assignment for the new coaching panel will be a friendly against Mozambique at Zimpeto National Stadium in Maputo on June 14.
Thereafter, the Flames will face Ethiopia in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier six days later at the same venue.
The match will be played at a neutral venue as Ethiopia does not have approved stadiums to host the qualifiers.
National Football Coaches Association (NFCA) General Secretary Davie Mpima said he was not aware of Mabedi’s choices.
’’All I can tell you is that we submitted ten names for his consideration. The final decision will be made by him,’’ Mpima said.
The Flames have slim hopes of qualifying for Afcon finals as they have three points from four matches, six points behind leaders Egypt and Guinea.
Ethiopia anchor Group D with three points and will be expected to put up a gallant fight with the aim of going up the table.
