Kenyan club renews interest in Kinnah

Kenyan top club AFC Leopards is reported to have renewed interest in hiring former Flames coach Kinnah Phiri.

Kinnah confirmed the development on Sunday, claiming it is not the first time the Leopards have shown interest to engage him. However, but efforts to get confirmation on the same from the Kenyan club proved futile.

“It is true AFC Leopards have expressed interest in my services although there is nothing concrete at the moment.

“They first approached me through one of their officials during the 2011 Cecafa Tusker Senior Challenge Cup in Tanzania, but I could not commit myself as I was contracted to the Malawi Government.

“They approached me again a few days ago, probably having heard that FAM had recommended termination of my contract,” said Kinnah.

He said he was still waiting to hear from Leopards, having been assured that they would come back to him.

“When they phoned me, they wanted a confirmation on whether it was true that I had been removed as coach for the Malawi national team and if at all I would be interested to coach their team. We agreed to discuss, so, I am still waiting to hear from them,” he said.

Last month, Simba Sports Club of Tanzania gave up on its intention to engage Kinnah after failing to get an official commitment from him.

 The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) fired Kinnah and his entire backroom staff owing to poor results.

Kinnah and his fired colleagues are yet to resolve their contractual issues.

Apart from the Flames, Kinnah has had stints as a coach with Big Bullets, whom he guided to the quarter-finals of the continental CAF Champions League in 2004. Before that, he coached a top Swaziland club, Manzini Wanderers.

He also coached a South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Free State Stars.

AFC Leopards are a popular team, mainly because they won the Kenyan Premier League a joint record 12 times with arch-rivals, Gor Mahia.