FAM targets Mabedi
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) targets to get former Flames captain Patrick Mabedi into the Flames coaching panel.
FAM’s move comes after the former Nyasa Big Bullets and South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs’ captain was sacked as assistant coach for the Amakhosi early this month.
FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said in an interview the association would engage him next year for the Flames assignments, but he did not indicate the role he would play.
“I have no doubt that Patrick Mabedi will be very useful to the national teams in the new season. He remains part and parcel of our plans though he was not available due to club commitments.
“Definitely he is in our plans to assist the team,” he said.
But Mabedi declined to comment, saying he would do so after the festive season holidays.
“As this is the festive season, I will comment on the issue after the holidays,” he said.
Malawi national football team head coach Ronny van Geneugden (RVG) named Patrick Mabedi as his new co-assistant coach in March following the dropping of Gerald Phiri Senior.
Nyamilandu told The Nation in March that RVG had opted for Mabedi as deputy coach to join the Flames’ panel that had seen Peter Mponda and James Sangala retained as co-assistant coach and team manager, respectively.
“The coaches have been recruited on a part-time basis; hence, they will be allowed to report for official duties at their clubs.
“Mabedi will be available during Fifa calendar dates and during off-season. The head coach will, from time to time, call for services of coaches in the youth national teams, depending on the situation,” he said.
Mabedi also served in similar capacity under Eddingtone Ng’onamo and caretaker trainer Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan.
“I, personally, have no problem serving my country. After all, I am where I am because of my country. But, at the same time, I told them to write my club [Chiefs], and if they agree to be releasing me, I have no problem. I am still contracted to Chiefs until 2019 and, as a professional, I need to follow protocol,” the former Flames captain had said.
