- TD can do that, says Osman
Questions have emerged on the rationale of Football Association of Malawi (FAM) hiring Flames consultant technical adviser Andy Dell in what is viewed as duplication with technical director John Kaputa’s role.
National Football Coaches Committee (NFCC) acting general secretary Benjamin Kumwenda yesterday said Kaputa was capable of assessing the coaches who have received targets of winning 2015 Cosafa Cup and qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final if they are to earn contract extensions.
“We don’t need an academy coach. The level of understanding is different from coaching young ones. I am worried. He will bring confusion in the team. So, what type of evaluation and assessment was done to bring him?” wondered the former Mponela United coach.
Be Forward Wanderers technical director Yasin Osman separately noted that, as a senior CAF instructor, Kaputa can assess the coaches, adding that Dell would need six months in Malawi to appreciate challenges that fail local coaches.
Chimodzi and Chamangwana were, as we went to press, unable to pick calls as they were in transit from Zambia.
Kaputa was, yesterday diplomatic when asked whether assessing national team coaches was not among his core responsibilities.
“I work hand in hand with the coaches in terms of technical advice, but I am not full-time with them. I do other activities, probably that is why the FA has brought in Dell,” said Kaputa before cutting short the interview.
When Chamangwana was FAM TD, he doubled as Flames technical adviser.
Dell is coming for just a month and FAM will meet his expenses, whose actual amount is yet to be established. He once worked as a coach for Surestream Youth League which laid the foundation for Surestream Academy’s birth in 2012. FAM has not explained who identified Dell and on what basis.
Former stand-in head coach Eddington Ng’onamo also was pushed aside after FAM hired for two months Belgian Tom Saintfiet, who presided over defeats at the hands of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Nigeria while managing draws against Botswana and Rwanda.
FAM president Walter Nyamilandu yesterday said Dell was, in respect of his qualifications and experience working with Surestream, identified in consultation with the TD and that he would receive in the same ranges of Flames coaches’ monthly perks.
“It is not a vote of no-confidence in the coaches and there is no hidden agenda. He wasn’t picked off the streets. The TD is not a consultant. Yes, he has the expertise, but we are looking for something more; an in-depth of player selection, playing style and training methods and tactics. Even companies with qualified personnel for a job also hire consultants,” Nyamilandu argued.
