FAM to review RVG performance
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) executive and technical sub-committees have agreed to review Flames coach Ronny van Geneugden’s (RVG) overall performance early March, a month before his two-year contract expires.
FAM vice-president James Mwenda, who also heads the body’s technical sub-committee, confirmed this yesterday after the technical sub-committee’s meeting held on Saturday.
The development also comes against the background of the Parliamentary Committee on Social and Community Welfare recommendation that FAM should consider sacking RVG for failing to steer the Flames to success after registering two wins in 20 matches (including eight losses and 10 draws). But Mwenda said such a decision can only be made after a thorough scrutiny of the coach’s performance.
“As a technical sub-committee, we will talk about RVG’s overall performance in the next three weeks and whatever recommendations that we will make, will be passed on to the executive for its endorsement,” he said.
“It should also be noted that contracts of most coaching panels have expired and we will take a holistic approach on assessing their overall performances.”
But when the parliamentary committee recently summoned government and FAM after some football fans petitioned the National Assembly to probe the “deteriorating football standards, Flames poor performance and poor administration”, it said sacking the coach was the suitable option.
The committee’s chairperson Richard Chimwendo Banda said although FAM argued that RVG has introduced a system of play and is identifying talent, it is results that matter most.
“The way you sacked Kinnah [Phiri] and Ernest [Mtawali], should also be the same way you should deal with RVG because he is among the coaches that have performed poorly,” he said.
“We are not trying to interfere with FAM affairs, but we are just being honest based on what we have seen from the coach so far.”
However, RVG said he is now through with his rebuilding exercise and the Under-23 side, which has travelled to Belgium for camping, will become the senior team.
He said only a few players from the senior team will be maintained.
“The focus was about rebuilding and that process is almost through now and not far from now, the country will see the fruits.
“We have taken a futuristic approach by building a new team of high-performing players that have the potential of turning around the Flames’ fortunes
“When I took over, I came up with a deliberate development programme covering all junior teams and the ultimate goal was to build a strong Flames squad and that is why we now have the likes of Precious Sambani, Patrick Phiri, Dennis Chembezi and Levison Maganizo,” he said.
RVG said he will soon be submitting a detailed report to FAM covering his two-year tenure.
In 2018, the Flames played nine games but did not register a win, having lost five and drawn four. They only scored two goals.
