RVG, Gerald Phiri public divorce
The fallout between Flames Coach, Ronny van Geneugden (RVG) and his long-time assistant, Gerald Phiri Senior, is understandable and it is ample testimony that Malawi football is far from recovery.
This public divorce started with a leaked e-mail that the two coaches were not in talking terms.
Then there were reports that the two were giving contradictory instructions to Under-20 players during the Cosafa Championship in Kitwe, Zambia, and there has been a litany of funny stories from the national team.
It is sad that Football Association of Malawi (Fam) and RVG portrayed that everything was in order and that Gerald remained his favourite assistant. Little did the nation realise that their leadership had evolved into a cancer that was devouring the performance of the team.
This instability has led to the growing pessimism among the supporters, aboutwhere our football is heading.
You don’t need rocket science to know that this is a sign that something is not right and the sooner our leadership in Fam realises this then the better for our national game.
Analysing all the events and inconsistencies that have been happening with the national team, I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that someone has unknowingly embarked on a difficult task of demolishing Malawi football.
It would appear RVG has been given a lot of powers to hire and fire his lieutenants at will, and this is bringing instability in the national game.
How many assistants will he appoint in his tenure? And where in the world have you seen a coach changing his assistants like under wears in such a short period of time?
Some of his decisions are out of touch with the demands of the game at a national team level and this should not be entertained.
By the time he will be leaving this country, his philosophy would have weighed down and choked our game beyond redemption.
If we are not careful, the entire nation will pay dearly for such inconsistent decisions that are made in the name of giving each coach equal opportunity to develop the game.
Fam Youth and Technical Committee, another helpless entity that needs complete overhaul, has become irrelevant to our football. It needs to wake up from deep slumber and bring sanity in the appointment of RVG’s backroom staff.
RVG’s main task should be to coach the national team and bring results not the way he is diversifying his responsibilities.
Let coaches be appointed in consultation with the local coaches association.
It is a fact that RVG’s much touted football philosophy has hit a snag and I don’t see it resurrecting the good game.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
