Liverpool legend, Zimbabwe’s Pasuwa on Malawi’s radar for vacant coaching job

Malawi national team, the Flames coaching post, which fell vacant after the expiry of Ernest Mtawali’s one-year contract, has reportedly attracted 60 applications, including Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar and Zimbabwe’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations coach Callisto Pasuwa who are among the five foreigners who have applied for the post.

The other expatriate coaches that have shown interest in the job include former Zambia coach Honour Janza, Paolo Duarte and Ian Gorowa.

But local reports says Zimbabwe’s Pasuwa has emerged as the favourites for the  Flames coaching job.

Pasuwa announced his resignation while leading the Warriors in Gabon during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and  is now available for offers,  according to his agent Gibson Mahachi.

Grobbelaar, who is now based in Canada, has been the goalkeepers’ coach for Ottawa Fury FC in the North American Soccer League since 2014.

He has not coached in international football since his last role with the Warriors at the turn of the millennium before talks for a permanent job were stalled by a stalemate in contract negotiations.

He told Standardsport in an interview yesterday that he was willing to take up the Malawi job with the long goal of helping the Flames qualify for the 2019 and 2021 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations as well as the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

“I would be willing to go there to present my vision. Obviously, I did some research before submitting my application and was really impressed with the way they are serious about their football. I see they have completed building a new stadium in Lilongwe which is commendable,” Grobbelaar said.

“If I get a chance, it will have to be structured for a long-term goal, for example qualification for the 2022 World Cup as well as the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments,” he said.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) sent a proposal to the Malawi government seeking a 50-50 salary sharing system for an expatriate coach.

However, sports minister Henry Mussa now awaits the decision of State President Peter Mutharika who  he will meet on Saturday on the matter.

The Malawi FA is panicking as the Flames have tough Chan qualifiers against Madagascar in April, followed in June by Afcon B qualifiers against reigning kings Cameroon, Morocco and the winner of a preliminary round tie between Comoros and Mauritius.

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