Blue Eagles recall coach Phiri
Blue Eagles have recalled their head coach Gerald Phiri from forced leave as the Malawi Police Service-sponsored outfit’s struggles continue.
Phiri was sent on forced leave three weeks ago after a string of “unsatisfactory results”, but the Law Enforcers have lost three straight matches in his absence.
They were booted out of the FDH Bank Cup 5-4 through post-match penalties by Dedza Young Soccer before going down to Moyale Barracks 2-1 and Mighty Tigers 1-0 in the TNM Super League.
Confirming Phiri’s recall in an interview yesterday, the club’s vice-general secretary Solomon Mchawi saidi: “Following an executive committee meeting which we had, it was resolved to recall him.
“We wrote him a letter, advising him to return to work and he has accepted. We want him to oversee the remaining five league games.”
He, however, said Phiri was not sent on forced leave due to poor results.
“We thought he needed time to reflect because when you look at the performance, the team has been doing well. We are also getting the required financial support from management and the players are getting their dues.
“So, the assumption is that we are just going through a bad patch, but we hope to turn the corner.”
Mchawi said their realistic target now is to survive relegation from the top-flight league.
He said: “To be honest we are sailing in troubled waters, but are hopeful that God will be on our side.
“Blue Eagles is a big team to be relegated, so we will fight to stay afloat. We have five games remaining and if we can win at least three matches and draw one, then our survival will be guaranteed.”
Eagles are 12th with 27 points from 25 matches.
Phiri conirmed his recall yesterday.
“It is true and I will be resuming duties tomorrow,” he said.
Meanwhile, Civil Service (Civo) United have summoned their coaching panel over the team’s poor performance.
This comes in the wake of the Civil Servants’ poor outing to the Southern Region at the weekend where they lost to Mighty Wanderers and Red Lions by 2-0 margins.
The club’s general secretary Ronald Chiwaula yesterday said: “We have an emergency meeting with the coaches tomorrow [today] to discuss the issue.
“We have not lost back-to-back in a long time and as such, we cannot just sit and watch,” he said.
