Coaches to be on probation

FAM has said the new Flames interim coaching panel will be assessed during the next three months that they will be on probation.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said this on Tuesday when he officially unveiled caretaker coach Eddington Ng’onamo and his deputies Ernest Mtawali and Patrick Mabedi at Chiwembe Technical Centre in Blantyre.

The trio appeared at the centre’s boardroom dressed in Flames red jerseys and blue slacks. They were in the company of their boss Nyamilandu and, if anything, their body language spoke volumes about their enthusiasm.

“I am delighted today to officially confirm the appointment of Eddie Ng’onamo as caretaker coach to be assisted by Ernest Mtawali and Patrick Mabedi.

“The appointment is on interim basis with effect from 1st March up to the end of June and will be in charge for the next three [2014] World Cup qualifiers against Namibia [twice] and Kenya.

“Suffice to say, they are on probation whereupon a decision will be made, based on their performance, on whether to offer them permanent contracts,” said Nyamilandu.

He said the appointment follows fruitful discussions which FAM had with the trio on Sunday where their packages were communicated.

The FAM president also said the trio will also prepare the Flames for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers that will start in November this year.

“We have a lot of confidence and trust in them and hopefully they will excel in the three matches that they will be in charge of,” he said.

Nyamilandu also said when the opportunity arose, FAM did not hesitate to appoint Ng’onamo because of his impeccable record both locally and abroad, saying: “He is mature and experienced. He also has vast knowledge of the game.

“The appointment of Ernest and Patrick was deliberately done because they have played the game at the highest level on the continent and beyond Africa and they are learning the ropes in the field of coaching. I am delighted to say the training of Ernest and Patrick in England and Germany respectively was worth it and it is now time to reap the rewards.

Nyamilandu said FAM is committed to supporting the new technical panel despite meagre resources.

“It’s a challenge for them and I also want them to prove that Malawians can determine their own destiny.”

However, the FAM president appealed to the soccer fraternity to give the new caretaker coaching panel the required support.

“They are coming in after a technical panel that was in charge for four years and to expect them to go to the moon, will be a tall order,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the trio, Ng’onamo thanked FAM for entrusting them with the task of turning around Flames fortunes.

He, however, conceded that they have a big task ahead of them.

“We’ll try to achieve what the nation wants and we are not asking the nation to do something for us, but we are going to work for the nation and, if we fail, we shall be responsible to the nation.

“Having said that, we realise the big task that lies ahead of us, but we’ll work as a team—myself, Patrick and Ernest.

“It will be a gradual process, but with the support from all stakeholders, I believe we’ll achieve something. We are not going to do something strange, but we’ll try our best,” said Ng’onamo.

On their part, Mabedi and Mtawali appealed for support from all stakeholders, saying the responsibility of improving the team’s performance does not lie in the hands of the coaching panel alone.

Mabedi also said they were happy with the terms offered by FAM.

“The most important thing is about serving the nation and not monetary issues,” he said.

Also in attendance were team manager Charles Manda, the Flames local-based players and FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda.