National Sports

Flames selection criterion changed

Eddington Ng’onamo’s reign as Flames interim coach appears to have started in the background with some changes, including the often controversial players’ selection criterion.

Ng’onamo is now asking each Super League coach to vouch for their respective players deemed fit to don the Flames colours. The team is shaping up for next month’s World Cup qualifying match in Namibia.

The caretaker coach was seen at the Kamuzu Stadium during a TNM Super League game distributing pieces of paper to Blantyre United mentor Elia Kananji and his Epac FC counterpart Abbas Makawa for them to submit names of players from their respective teams.

Ng’onamo refused to comment, but four of the seven Super League coaches contacted, including Makawa and Kananji, confirmed that it was the first time they were being consulted.

Super League title winning coach Frank ‘Franco’ Ndawa of Silver Strikers on Monday confirmed proposing some names to Ng’onamo.

Asked if that has been the norm in recent past, Ndawa simply said “but it ought to be like that.”

“I was the first to propose the name of players. We are willing to help him succeed. This is about serving the nation. This is the way to go. It is not supposed to be a one-man job,” Ndawa noted.

Kananji and Makawa admitted that it was the first time a national team coach was asking them about their opinion on players. In the past, they could only see names of players called up for the Flames camp in newspapers.

“It is a right approach as we are closer to the players and we understand their strengths and weaknesses. He basically asked for me to suggest names of players from my team who I feel deserve a Flames call-up,” Makawa explained.

Kananji said Ng’onamo briefed him that he would ask every Super League coach to propose three names of players from their respective clubs to be considered for the Flames.

“That’s how things are done elsewhere. National team coaches work hand in hand with club coaches. This is a first,” said the Blantyre United mentor.

FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda was not readily available for a comment on Monday. But the Malawi National Coaches Committee president John Kaputa said he was aware of Ng’onamo’s new approach.

Kaputa pledged to help Ng’onamo, who is yet to sign a contract alongside his assistants Patrick Mabedi and Ernest Mtawali.

Blue Eagles coach Derklerk Msakakuona and his Moyale Barracks counterpart Temwa Msuku on Monday said they were yet to be contacted.

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