Kinnah accuses FAM of neglecting ‘old brooms’

Former Flames coach Kinnah Phiri has accused the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) of sidelining experienced coaches from giving input towards the national team.

He was commenting on the Flames’ botched up 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

“The problem is that FAM tends to shut the door on the senior coaches that have coached the national team before.

“Coaching is not the only contribution that old coaches like myself can make. We can also offer technical advice to the current coaches and by so doing, it would not mean that we are after their positions.

“The national team belongs to all of us and we also feel bad when it does not do well,” he said.

But FAM vice-president James Mwenda, who is also chairperson of the association’s technical subcommittee, said the door has always been open for technical advice from experienced coaches.

He said: “As long as the advice is in good faith, the door is always open. Even during his time, we were encouraging him to get positive advice from other coaches with vast experience and that trend has not changed.

“Let me take this opportunity to ask all experienced coaches to provide advice through the National Football Coaches Association [NFCA].”