Malawi coach demoted to regional director: Kinnah keep cards close to his chest
Kinnah Phiri, fired as Malawi national football team coach, has kept his cards close to the chest if he will take up his new role as northern region football director.
Government announced on Friday that Kinnah has been deployed to a northern region sports development office. Kinnah’s assistant Young Chimodzi has been handled the mantle to be central region development officer while Jack Chamangwana will be heading the Southern Region office.
This was following a meeting between government officials from the ministry of youth and sports, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) officials and Malawi National Council of Sports at in Blantyre on Friday, February 01, 2013.
In a news statement, signed by the Principle Secretary ll in the ministry of youth and sports, Justin Saidi, government said it has only re-deployed the three Flames officials to regional sports development offices to help in the development of football from the grass root level.
The statement went on to say that government has only redeployed the three to other government departments and insisted that they will be eligible to receive the same salaries which they were getting when they were with the national team.Reactions
But Kinnah kept his cards close to chest when Nyasa Times contacted him.
“I do not know anything about that. I have no comment because l haven’t been communicated and as such l cannot say yes or no. I will wait an advice from my lawyers,” said Kinnah.
He, however, stressed that as far as he was concerned he is still employed by government as a national team coach and that his contract has not changed.
He faulted FAM on reasons they advanced to remove him as national coach describing them as vague.
FAM recommended Kinnah’s removal on the grounds which include poor performance of the Flames that have led to its nose-dive on Coca-Cola Fifa rankings, selection criteria and his involvement with Big Bullets FC don’t hold any water.
However, Chimodzi said even though he has not been formally informed, he was ready to accept his new role.
He however said he needs to “see the conditions attached” to make an informed choice.
For the former technical director Jack Chamangwana said he was more than ready to take his new challenge.
“We will start our job in March and it is a big challenge to me. Let me state it here that l will have time now to travel into districts and schools to unearth hidden talent,” said Chamangwana.
The coaches also said the Flames’ recent poor showing is due to poor preparations and lack of training games.
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