Football Association of Malawi (Fam) is single-handedly footing Malawi National Football Team Coach Patrick Mabedi’s remunerations after Ministry of Youth and Sports rejected the association proposal last year, Malawi News Sport investigations can reveal.
Malawi News Sport has established that Mabedi is the highest paid Flames local coach ever as he gets K157.4 million as gross per year-translating to K13.1 million per month minus other benefits.
Mabedi signed a two-year contract with Fam on November 1, last year after guiding the Flames to the semi-finals of the Cosafa Men’s Senior Championship last year.
This means the association has found itself between the rock and a hard place as it is footing the bills without a helping hand from the government.
But according to minutes dated December 6, 2023, Fam leadership led by the then president Walter Nyamilandu Manda and General Secretary Alfred Gunda met Ministry of Sports officials including Principal Secretary Isaac Katopola and Director of Sports Jameson Ndalama.
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During the meeting the Ministry offered K1.7 million as its contribution towards the coach’s salary after Fam offered K4.1 million.
“In response to the offer Mr. Mabedi had reservations that the amount was not satisfactory considering that there had been devaluation and the job had many risks and asked his salary to be at K11 million per month. Fam decided to engage government to know how much government would be contributing before committing to the new salary as negotiations with the coach were in progress.
“The government was to implement a new policy where coach’s contract should be directly handled by Fam and the salary be paid through Malawi National Council of Sports. There is a need to consider Malawi’s GDP and the economic environment when coming up with the salaries of national team coaches,” the minutes read.
It was then noted that government cannot go beyond K1.7 million as Flames coach is at the same grade with Principal Secretaries.
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The former Kaizer Chiefs defender and coach is also entitled to K1.5 million motor vehicle allowance per month and 350 litres of fuel per month.
On top of that, he is entitled to business class when travelling with the Flames.
He is also entitled to two economy flight tickets to any destination of his choice. Mabedi is also entitled to eight percent if the team reaches the quarterfinals and semi-finals of a paying tournament.
This means Mabedi is the highest paid local Flames coach after Meck Mwase who was getting K1.7 million per month.
However, Mabedi was not readily available for his comment yesterday.
Immediate past Flames coach Mario Marinica was getting about K12 million per month. When contacted Friday, Gunda was yet to respond to our questionnaire as we went to press.
However, Fam first vice president Madalitso Kuyera, who is also chairperson of Fam sub-committee, confirmed that the association was honouring the contract.
“We inherited the contract, we are aware of the contents in the contract of Mabedi and we honour it. We are giving the coach all the support he needs so that he delivers,” Kuyera said.
Last week, Fam said the contract for the gaffer will be reviewed to align it with that of the Transforming the Game.
Spokesperson for the Ministry Macmillan Mwale said government was waiting for official communication from Fam on the matter.
“This has not been officially communicated to government so it is difficult to come up with a position now,” Mwale said.
National Football Coaches Association (NFCA) General Secretary Davie Mpima said Fam set a good precedent for local coaches.
“Our local coaches deserve good packages for them to perform. They need motivation all the time,” he said.
Fam is also yet to appoint coaches for the Scorchers, Under-17 and 20 boys national football teams as it is awaiting government’s approval.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa, who earns around K10 million per month, has been proposed to lead U-23 at this year’s Cosafa Cup this month.
