New Flames coach’s plan hits a snag

Malawi national football team (the Flames) caretaker coach Eddingtone Ng’onamo has been left with plenty of food for thought on what to expect in his new role.

His proposal to have the team start training on Monday in preparation for next month’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against Namibia’s Brave Warriors has failed to materialise as FAM is yet to get extra-budgetary funding from government.

Ng’onamo had proposed that the Flames should assemble at least by Sunday at Chiwembe Technical Centre in Blantyre to start their preparations for the Brave Warriors.

However, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said the Flames will go into camp on Sunday.

“There will be need to give the players a break of one week following the end of the season so that they come to camp fully charged.

“Once camping starts, we will not afford any break because their fitness will be of utmost importance bearing in mind that the league will be off season.

“We also plan to play an international friendly match before playing Namibia to accord the new technical panel an opportunity to assess the players,” he said.

Nyamilandu also said discussions are currently underway with a suitable team that will be flexible to face the Flames in the absence of a Fifa calendar date.

“Confirmations will be made once our proposal has been approved by the Malawi National Council of Sports and the Ministry of Youth and Sports,” said Nyamilandu.

But the FAM president said they are still within their schedule as the association’s proposal was that the team should camp for two weeks and not three weeks as suggested by Ng’onamo.

“We are making good progress having had a fruitful meeting with Sports Council and government officials. There is a plan that we are trying to pursue for the technical panel to receive their TOR’s [terms of reference] as soon as possible.

“There is no need to press the panic buttons because we are within the time frame for preparations,” he said.

Ng’onamo said he could not comment on the failure to meet his initial schedule.

“There is nothing I can say as there are administrative procedures that need to be followed. However, I hope the authorities will speed up the process,” said Ng’onamo.