Tigers hire coach Ndawa: Meke deputy
Coach-less Super League side, Azam Tigers, have ended their search for a new trainer with the appointment of experienced tactician Franco Ndawa.
The struggling side has also promoted its reserve side coach and former Big Bullets and Flames captain, Meke Mwase, to become Ndawa’s assistant.
Tigers FC Technical Director Robin Alufandika confirmed the appointment while ruling out chances of engaging former Mighty Wanderers tactician, Zimbabwean Rahman Gumbo and former Bullets Coach Eddington Ng’onamo who were also earmarked for the job.
“Yes we have settled for the two, we believed they are experienced coaches who can assist our team produce results,” said Alufandika, fondly referred to as Abambo in the soccer circles.
Ndawa, who was fired by Silver Strikers following the team’s poor performance last season, replaces Leo Mpulula.
Mpulula’s two-year contract was not renewed on mutual agreement amidst both parties’ counter accusations over the team’s poor performance during his two-year tenure.
The controversial coach failed to win any silverware with the ambitious club as fans and officials accused him of frustrating and dumping a number of good and influential players such as Mike Kaziputa
Ndawa has also been hired by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) as team manager for the newly appointed national football team’s coaching panel of coaches Young Chimodzi (head), Jack Chamangwana (assistant) and Phillip Nyasulu who is goalkeeper trainer.
Ndawa is one of the country’s experienced coaches having coached Red Lions for a long time while serving as Malawi Defence Force (MDF) employee before moving to Mighty Wanderers then Silver.
The soft-spoken coach has also handled the youth national football teams on a number of occasions.