Mwase’s internship cut short over the virus
Flames coach Meck Mwase’s internship at Dutch Elite League side FC Utrecht has been cut short due to the COVID-19 also known as corona virus. The Dutch football association has cancelled all football activities due to the corona virus and this has affected the Flames coach’s internship at the club.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) general secretary Alfred Gunda confirmed the development in an interview on Friday.
The general secretary said they will lobby for the coach to continue the internship after the situation has normalised.
The Dutch death toll in the current coronavirus outbreak doubled on Friday to 10 the RIVM public institute said in its daily round-up.
A further 190 people have tested positive for the virus, taking the toll to 804.
Meanwhile, the coach is expected back from The Netherlands on Monday.
Mwase’s return comes at a time Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced it had postponed all the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers due to the virus.
A statement released by CAF on Friday stated that the continental football governing body will announce a new schedule.
“As CAF’s priority remains the health and safety of our stakeholders, we have been monitoring closely together with our medical team the impact of the Coronavirus crisis and Coronavirus has been declared as pandemic by World Health Organisation.
“For the above reasons and after studying carefully the current situation, CAF has decided to postpone the Total Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled from March 23 to 31 2020.
“We will also share with you a proposal of a new calendar that will be communicated on a second step, according to the evolution of the coronavirus situation,” reads in part a letter from CAF acting general secretary Abdel Bah to member associations.
CAF follows the steps taken by Uefa which also postponed all matches across Europe.
Following the postponement of the Afcon qualifiers the Flames will not regroup on Monday as previously arranged.
The Flames returned from Zambia on Friday after losing 1-0 to Chipolopolo in an international friendly played on Thursday.
