Nation Online

FAM snubs former Zim, Ethiopia coach

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) recently snubbed advances by former Zimbabwe and Ethiopia national team coach Tom Sainfiet to take over Kinnah Phiri’s Flames coaching job.

Sainfiet, who has worked with four associations in the past three years, has now been engaged as Nigeria’s technical director.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu confirmed that the Belgian had offered himself for the Flames job, but could not be considered as the association already has a binding contract with Kinnah.

"I think he [Sainfiet] got wind of the news that Kinnah’s contract was heading towards the end and he made advances," said Nyamilandu.

Kinnah’s contract expires at the end of June this year and FAM has made a commitment to renew it.

According to a well-placed source, Sainfiet first offered himself to FAM following the Flames failure to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

International media reports indicate Sainfiet, who had stints with Namibia, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia national teams, has been offered a cool $20 000 monthly salary [about K3.4 million] on a four-year deal.