‘Local coach last option’: FAM says a foreign coach from Africa would be an alternative

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has said hiring a local coach will be the last option in the event that President Peter Mutharika rejects the proposal to hire an expatriate.

FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said the alternative will be to hire a foreign coach from within Africa.

“We are positive that as someone who has passion for football, the State President will assent to our proposal, but in the event that he does not due to other circumstances, then we could also pursue a foreign coach from within the continent as an option.

“This could be relatively cheaper. Failing which, we will [then] have to settle for a local coach,” he said.

Nyamilandu said everything being equal, they are hoping to have a coach in place by the end of the month.

“Any [further] delays will be counter-productive, but we cannot take short-cuts, we need to follow the procedures,” he said.

The incoming coach’s first assignment will be the Championship of African Nations (Chan) preliminary round away tie against Madagascar on April 14 while the return leg is slated for a week later.

However, seasoned local tactician Yasin ‘Titch’ Osman has said hiring a panel of experienced local coaches would be ideal looking at the time factor.

“I think they [FAM] should not completely turn their backs on local coaches because a panel of experienced local coaches can also deliver because they would have an advantage in that they already know the players,” he said.

FAM finalised its lobbying drive for an expatriate coach by submitting its proposal to the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development last week.

The Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Henry Mussa yesterday said he was still going through FAM’s proposal before submitting it to President Mutharika to make a final determination.