Kinnah reacts to Malawi sports minister’s remarks
By Jeromy Kadewere, Nyasa Times
Sacked Malawi mational football team trainer Kinnah Phiri has said he remains as such despite fresh assertions from Sports Minister, Enock Chihana, that the legend is still the Flames head coach.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) issued a media statement last week that it had fired Kinnah alongside his technical team following a string of poor results by the Flames.
But the sports minister told the nation Wednesday, almost 10 days after the statement, that the Flames all time goal scorer was still in charge of the national team and what came from FAM was a mere request to have him fired.
The minister also said technically, Kinnah and his backroom staff are still employed by government until such a time when the process of terminating their contracts is finalized after they seek advice from the office of the Attorney General (AG).
And reacting to the minister’s claim, Kinnah told Nyasa Times it was wrong for Chihana to state he was still in charge of the team when he actually received a summon to appear before his ministry, Malawi National Council of Sports and FAM officials next Monday in Lilongwe.
“Actually, it is quite wrong for the minister to say l am still the Flames coach because what l know is that on Monday next week l am going to appear before them in Lilongwe,” Kinnah told Nyasa Times.
He however indicated that he will be in a better position to explain the issue after the Monday meeting.
In his remarks, the sports minister further blamed the country’s soccer governing body for not following procedures in sacking the coach and the entire technical panel.
He insisted Kinnah emains the head coach and as usual will be getting his monthly salary.
“If government will be in agreement with FAM’s proposal [to fire Kinnah] it means tax payers will have to cough a cool K30 million for premature termination of his contract,” the minister revealed.
At its executive meeting held in Blantyre, FAM agreed to terminated the services of Kinnah (barely four months into his two-year contract), his deputy Young Chimodzi and technical director Jack Chamangwana citing poor performance.
The three still have 18 months remaining on their two-year contracts.
FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said they followed the required procedures in recommending the coaching panel’s removal.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
