Football coaches body embraces Pasuwa, Kabwe

National Football Coaches Association (NFCA) has officially welcomed foreign mentors Zimbabwean Callisto Pasuwa and Zambian Dan Kabwe into their fold.

During Pasuwa’s welcoming ceremony in Blantyre on Monday, newly-elected NFCA chairperson Aubrey Nankhuni said they believe the two renowned coaches are contributing to the development of the game in the country and that there is a lot that local coaches can learn from them.

On why the association is welcoming Pasuwa and Kabwe more than two years and a year respectively since they were  hired  as head coaches for TNM Super League defending champions Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers, Nankhuni said the decision has just come as an idea of the coaches association’s newly-elected executive committee.

He said: “We want to change the way the NFCA works going forward. These coaches are indeed foreigners, but they are doing a respectable work that is helping the country improve the standards of the game.

“If you look at the performance of Bullets and Silver in the league, you will understand what I am talking about. These coaches also deserve credit for Malawi’s Africa Cup of Nations’ qualification as the Flames relied on most of their finished products to build the winning team. We cannot ignore such coaches, but welcome them into our fold as there is a lot we can learn from them.”

Nankhuni, who was accompanied by NFCA vice-general secretary Anderson Kamanga and the South’s football coaches chairperson Abel Mkandawire, added that they are keen to involve Pasuwa and Kabwe in their imminent coaching clinics across the country.

Pasuwa said he was happy to have been officially welcomed by the coaches body as this gives him freedom to work towards the development of the game in Malawi apart from his duties at Bullets.

“Previously, I restricted my work to Bullets and I was afraid of joining the coaches’ body as they seemed not interested in foreigners. But now I feel at home. I will tell my people in Zimbabwe that I am home away from home,” he said.

“Football is more scientific nowadays. Let us not be jealousy of each other but, rather work together to take the game of football to greater heights.”

Kabwe was not available for comment yesterday.

Pasuwa has so far led Bullets to back-to-back Super League glory while Kabwe is hunting for his first league title with Silver.