Minister Mussa blasts FAM’s ‘poor’ admin: ‘Malawi should have maintained Ernest Mtawalli as coach’

Minister of Sports, Labour and Manpower Development Henry Mussa  has blasted the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), saying they need a soul-searching as their management of the game in “poor”.

Mussa said the poor results of the national football team, the Flames, is partly due to lack of direction by the football governing body.

He also lashed out at FAM subjecting players to ridicule when they purchased an oversized Umbro uniform used for the national team at the Cosafa Cup tournament in South Africa.

“One tends to wonder if at all FAM leadership is in control of things,” said Mussa.

FAM commercial and marketing director Limbani Matola, admitted that the uniform was appalling, and that they are working on having a new  uniform befitting a national team.

“The logistics on new national team jerseys are at advanced stage. The sample designs were done and duly approved with minor changes by FAM executive committee

“At the moment, we are at an advanced stage of sourcing quotations and deal packages from potential suppliers,” said Matola in quotes reported in the local press.

He said FAM will also get replicas for the commercialization drive.

But Mussa  also attacked FAM over “premature reshuffling “ of national team coaches.

He said former coach Ernest Mtawali should have been given “more time” because under him there were some signs of hope.

Mussa refused to judge the performance of Belgian tactician Roony Van Geneughen, who is the head coach of the Flames.

“We are yet to receive a report from Fam and we should be able to engage them headon to really appreciate why the whole thing, instead of improving, is getting worse and worse all the time,” Mussa said.

Fam President, Walter Nyamilandu, and General Secretary, Alfred Gunda, are yet to react to the criticism .