Flames on three-game target—Govt

 

Malawi’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, which sponsors the Flames and coach Kinnah Phiri, say they are from the Kenya game, working on a three-game target that would necessitate a performance review, but Football Association of Malawi has said it is not aware of the target.

Director of Sports Jameson Ndalama on Tuesday revealed that FAM communicated to government about the three-game target ending with this Saturday’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

“We are remaining with one game and we are not doing fine. We are not meeting the target. The target was set by FAM and we expect that after the Chad game, the FAM executive will decide the way forward,” Ndalama said.

He claimed that FAM made the target in one of their meetings.

In an interview seeking answers as to why some fans might have shunned the Flames World Cup qualifier against Nigieria on Saturday, Ndalama said as sponsors they expect good results and “we are frustrated and not happy with results.”

The draw against Nigeria was the fifth back-to-back for Kinnah this year in all competitions. The Flames have in the last 11 games, won once, drawn seven and lost twice.

Kinnah, fully backed by FAM president Walter Nyamilandu, insists he has performed and that he is rebuilding the team.

A source close to FAM on Wednesday corroborated Ndalama’s remarks about “the target that FAM said to have set had indeed with something to do with three games.”

“However, there was no specificity as to what exactly the targets were other than that they wished for Malawi to qualify for the 2013 Afcon. Given this, one would assume that the two World Cup games were really not the ‘essential’ targets, but rather the Chad game as it is the one that holds the key to qualifying,” said the official.

But on Tuesday, FAM commercial and media manager Casper Jangale simply said the matter was too technical for him to comment on.

In a response to a questionnaire, Nyamilandu said he was unaware of the said target.

“I do not remember seeing any correspondence or attending a meeting on this matter. The Sports director is, therefore, better placed to comment,” said Nyamilandu.

The FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda in an interview with The Daily Times expressed ignorance of Ndalama’s remarks that there would, on June 18, be a meeting to decide the future of Kinnah.

Kinnah’s contract ends this month.