Peace rebuffs name

Netball legend Peace Chawinga-Kalua has turned down NAM’s offer for the post of assistant national team coach.

However, fellow netball phenomenon Mary Waya has accepted the task of Queens coach.

The 10-day deadline, which the Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) gave the two to respond to the job offers, expires today.

NAM also offered another netball legend, Connis Mhone, the position of Under-21 head coach with Samuel Kanyenda as her deputy.

Chawinga-Kalua confirmed turning down the offer, saying there were other issues that were not clearly outlined. She, however, said NAM would be in a better position to provide reasons for her decision.

NAM general secretary Carol Bapu confirmed receiving letters from Chawinga-Kalua and Waya, but refused to comment on the issue. She, instead, referred The Nation to the association’s president Rosy Chinunda who could not be reached yesterday.

However, a well-placed source confided to The Nation that Chawinga-Kalua was not happy with some of the terms in the offer letter.

“It would appear she [Chawinga-Kalua] wanted clarification on some issues such as her roles and wanted to take them up with NAM, but it would appear the association said it could only accept to meet her on condition that she accepts her appointment.

“The other issue was that she felt there would be a duplication of roles with the head coach as the tasks that she was expected to carry out were that of the coach,” said the source.

The source further claimed that Chawinga-Kalua was not happy to accept the offer before looking at the contents of the contract and that she should be reporting to NAM instead of the coach, who is supposed to be her boss.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Chawinga-Kalua expected that after submitting their CVs, the coaches should have been invited for interviews to make an informed decision on the positions.

Waya confirmed accepting NAM’s offer and signing the contract.