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Absolute luxury: RVG operates from hotel for 34 days

Flames coach Ronny Van Geneugden (RVG) has spent over 30 days at Sunbird Mount Soche, accumulating a whopping bill which Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is expected to foot.

The Belgian coach, who jetted into the country on April 6, was booked at the hotel where he checked in and has made it his home ever since.

Is putting up at a hotel: Van Geneugden (L)

A basic suite at the four star hotel is at approximately K120 000 (about $162) per day and for the period the cost is close to K4 million.

But FAM president Walter Nyamilandu yesterday downplayed the issue, saying FAM already budgeted for the month-long hotel expenses while the association would be searching for a ‘suitable’ house.

He said: “We budgeted for his hotel stay for a month while looking for a suitable house, knowing that for the first two weeks, he would be camping and travelling with the team. The house has been identified and we have signed a lease agreement with the landlord and he will be occupying the house pretty soon.”

However, analyst Charles Nyirenda said apart from the association accumulating unnecessary expenses, this can also affect the coach’s output.

He said: “FAM knew they were employing an expatriate coach long time ago. Why not plan in advance to secure a house for the coach before he arrived? Why put the coach in a hotel for over a month? I didn’t know FAM had such money to throw around when there are several areas that need improvement in our football. Why wait up to 34 days before renting a house for the coach?”

Nyirenda said apart from the issue of expenses, having the coach lodged at a hotel can also affect his performance.

“It is very difficult for the coach to work efficiently from a hotel. He needs to be at a house where he can execute his duties effectively, not a hotel room,” he said.

RVG was not available for comment.

The Nation has since established that RVG is indeed set to move from the hotel following the arrival of his wife, Veerle, from Belgium last week. 

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