Not convinced’ – Mixed reaction to coach Mtawali as Malawi blows K200mil for AFCON
Following the Malawi national football team exit at the Cosafa Castle Cup tournament in Windhoek, Namibia, several people have expressed their disappointment with the team’s recent performance both in Coasaf and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers claiming coach Ernest Mtawali and his entire backroom staff are to blame for the team’s poor showing.
Speaking to Nyasa Times, one fan said the Flames are inconsistent and exiting the Cosafa at such an early stage is a true reflection of that factor.
“We have a very poor record in must win games and the loss to Lesotho is such a good example of that. We played against a youthful Angolan side before facing a resilient Mauritius side two days later. From the two games, one could tell that our team lacks consistency because I felt we should have punished Mauritius with more goals to prove our wealthy.
“What happened against Lesotho was the continuation of the poor showing from our previous game. There were some players like Chiukepo Msowoya who didn’t deserve to be in the starting eleven basing on his poor performance in the two games but that wasn’t the case. I believe Coach Mtawali and his technical panel had their own understanding o the game but I felt the fielding was somehow amateur like ,” said one of the concerned fan Alfred Kachimanga.
Another fan said Malawi should start thinking about building a better team rather than putting the hype on old guards who have passed their playing time .
He said it is unfortunate that Mtawali was given the nod to lead the team without experience which he said has been his major challenge.
“He (Mtawali ) has never coached a competitive club and doesn’t have the qualities of becoming a good coach. Look at the way the team has been performing in AFCON qualifiers. Within a short period of time, we have used over 30 players which shows lack of direction for our team and it’s a clear indicator of failure on Mtawali part and his backroom staff. We need to sharpen our pangas so that we get rid of them once they return,” said a furious fan.
Meanwhile, reports which Nyasa Times have established shows that the Football Association of Malawi is yet to make a decision on Mtawali’s future.
But speaking to Nyasa Times on conditions of anonymity, one of Mtawali’s close pal said t the coach was given targets by his employers following the Flames poor showing in AFCON qualifiers.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has since blown K200 million for the Afcon campaign.
According to FAM administrative manager Christopher Mdolo, the Flames will drain about K30 million for the remaining academic fixture against Swaziland.
FAM was allocated K32 million by Malawi National Council of Sport in the budget, they received K50 million from Carlsberg Malawi and K44 million from Prophet Shepherd Bushiri.
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Which parent at this point in Malawi wishes his son became a footballer??? Should a child show any interest in football, he is stopped immediately! Are you sure football can not be a career? That tells it all, we have all belittled the sport hence the dwindling standards. Imagine all the pitches that were used for the young stars to play on, there is a structure. Where will they practice and develop their skill? At the national team? If we can only change the our mentality, to believe that our children can make a living out of football then the… Read more »
The football in 70s n 80s as said by Victor was based on performance of an individual and not on club neither place of origin. Secondly, identification of players was being done even in rural areas. Koma pano nobody ku FAM kapena Sports Council amene amapita kumidziko regardless of so many opportunities of league games sponsored by politicians and others. Today we have District Sports Officers who are there ambiri just kuti amafuna ntchito koma zampira sadzitsata ayi. Sanasewelepo komanso sadziwanso ndi malamulo azamasewero ena aliwonse. Ma games amatha kukhalako just 5km from their place of stay sapitakonso. Let’s come… Read more »
Under the leadership of Ngwazi Kamuzu flames was built on the four cornerstones, let me remind you 1) unity, 2) loyalty 3) obedience and 4) discipline. Thats where flames was built upon. I the Ngwazi was still arrive that could be Chitimu in Africa and Malawi in particular.
Yes Bibo is right, there is a need to go on the drawing board and start fresh otherwise tax payers money being wasted.In the 70s and 80s there were no football academies in Malawi but the National Team was performing very well. The ship is sinking please help……………………???????????????
Who wrote him the job?
wrote him on the job?????? anamulemba ntchito ndani? kkkkkkkk chingelezi cha chichewa
Football standards have gone down drastically due to lack of long term planning by both government and FAM. Success in the game is based on massive investment especially in the youth. One wonders how a country can achieve success in such a popular game without having even a single well known academy. Clubs rely on old players scouted from rural areas having played on bare ground without playing shoes. Such players become the so-called stars for the national team and featuring in the sub-standard Malawian super league. FAM administrators have for long believed in short term achievements instead of laying… Read more »
This is very true. Every word.