FAM says Mwase requested for Kaputa

FAM says its former technical director (TD) John Kaputa was roped in as Flames technical adviser on recommendation from Malawi national football team coach Meck Mwase.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu was responding to a question on whether Kaputa’s hiring was an appeasement following the expiry of his contract  last month. Kaputa had purpotededly indicated he was not interested to renew the TD contract.

He said: “The coach requested for his services when he [Kaputa] retired, noting that he assisted the technical panel in the qualification for [2021] Afcon [Africa Cup of Nations].

“We approved the coach’s request to enable him deliver in his job.

“We felt duty bound to keep the winning formula by maintaining his technical panel which included John Kaputa

“For the sake of good order, his involvement is on part time basis and is limited to the Flames while Meck is still the coach.”

FAM technical subcommittee chairperson Tiya Somba-Banda also defended the move in an interview yesterday, saying: “It is a backroom staff role. He will be playing an advisory role to the coach and his backroom staff.

“This is what Kaputa has been doing all along and the coach felt he still needs his insights just like the way he picked [Lovemore] Fazili and Bob [Mpinganjira] as his assistants.”

However, some quarters wondered that the development will create a duplication of roles with the prospective TD who is also expected to be an adviser to the national team coaches.

Nyamilandu said the incoming TD will only offer guidance as and when required by the coach.

“But he will not be involved in day-to-day technical operations of the national teams because his main focus will be on football development..

“His involvement is at arm’s length to ensure separation of responsibilities  and accountability of results,” he said.

Mwase, who is in South Africa with the Flames for the Cosafa Cup, had not responded to our questionnaire yesterday.