National Sports

RVG justifies move to stick to same coaches

Flames coach Ronny van Geneugden (RVG) has said the move to have his three assistants doubling as junior national team coaches, is part of a drive to ensure continuity in implementing his football philosophy.

The coach was responding to concerns raised by the National Football Coaches Association (NFCA) on why his assistants—Gerald Phiri, Deklerk Msakakuona and Peter Mponda—are also in charge of the Under-20, Under-17 and Under-15 national teams when there are several other capable coaches.

RVG: It is about transition

Phiri—who is RVG’s first assistant—is the head coach of the Under-20 side with Msakakuona (Flames second assistant coach) as his deputy. Msakakuona is the head coach for Under-17 with Mponda as his assistant. Mponda heads the Under-15 team with Msakakuona as his deputy.

Said RVG: “As I impart the  playing philosophy and style, it is important to ensure that the process is done at all levels, starting from the Under-15s to the senior team and to ensure proper transition. It is imperative that the coaches I work with at senior level, should also be involved with the junior teams.

“The coaches raised that issue during the meeting I had with them recently and I clarified my position.”.

He  also said as part of building the capacity of other coaches, he will be inviting two coaches to be part of the weekly national team training sessions.

“The programme has already started as we are currently drilling the Under-17 national team. Next week, we will invite two others to be part of the Under-20 national team training and it will be the same with the senior team camping [for local players] scheduled for the other week.

“So, it’s an ongoing process that will benefit as many coaches as possible.”

NFCA publicity secretary Aubrey Nankhuni said through his [RVG] explanations, they understood his point

“It is true, as a national coaches body we had reservations about the same coaches being given other roles in the junior teams. We felt, the move would deny other coaches an opportunity for exposure.

“But after his explanation, we clearly understood the rationale behind his move. It was only that at first he did not come out to explain the purpose of the move.

“Having said that, as a national coaches body, we expect him to engage us on such crucial issues so as to clear misconceptions that may arise,” he said.

Nankhuni also said the NFCA feels the coach is on the right track in his quest to build a strong national team.

“Rebuilding is not an overnight exercise and we appeal to the soccer fraternity to be patient with him. As a national coaches body, we have assured him of our full support and we are ready to work with him so that he achieves his goals.”

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said this is an ideal structure “as it will ensure consistency on the style of play and follow-through of the players as they graduate from the junior national teams to the Flames.

“We have lost out in the past on talented players due to lack of coordination between the national teams and ended up not maximising from the investment made on the youth”.

He added: “ We believe this integrated approach will yield the desired results as we build the national team from bottom up under the guidance of the national coach.” n

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