Zimbabwe withdraws friendly with Malawi, says can’t play with coachless team

Zimbabwe Football Association has opted to play Botswana in a friendly encounter on February 6, 2012 snubbing Malawi national soccer team citing the current situation where the Flames have no coach.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President Walter Nyamilandu said  they were keen to make use of the February 6 which is a FIFA international friendly matches’ day to play the Zimbabwe Warriors , but the hosts on Wednesday communicated that they had called off the game because Malawi has not coach.

Zimbabwe Football Association Chief executive officer Jonathan Mashangaize confirmed the development and said they have lined up another friendly match with the Zebras on the same date at Rufaro Stadium.

“We wanted to play Malawi but they do not have a coach,”  said Mashangaize.

Flasmes coach Kinnah Phiri and his assistamnt Young Chimodzi (right):Fired but still on job  awaiting their sack to be regularised
Flasmes coach Kinnah Phiri and his assistamnt Young Chimodzi (right):Fired but still on job awaiting their sack to be regularised

FAM general secretary Sugzo Nyirenda said he was aware about the cancellation of the friendly match but insisted they were yet to receive a written communication from their Zimbabwean colleagues.

Just like the Flames, the Warriors are also faced with a difficult task of assembling a competitive and winning outfit before resuming their faltering 2014 Brazil World Cup campaign with a tough assignment away to the Pharaohs of Egypt in March.

The coach-less Flames will travel to Windhoek to clash Namibia’s Brave Warriors in the Brazil World Cup African Zone qualifiers in March

Malawi is facing controvery over the sacking of head coach Kinnah  Phiri and his backroom staff.

FAM recently recommended to government the termination of Flames coach Kinnah Phiri, his deputy Young Chimodzi and technical adviser Jack Chamangwana owing to poor performance.

The three still have 18 months remaining on their two-year contracts.

The country’s Youth and Sports Minister Enoch Chihana on Wednesday said while the responsibility of hiring or firing national coach rests in the hands of FAM, there are other procedures that need to be followed; hence, the move to seek advice from the office of the Attorney General (AG).

The minister also said technically, the three are still employed by government until such a time when the process of terminating their contracts is finalised.

“Technically, they are still government employees because we have not yet written them letters to formally terminate their contracts, but we will try as much as possible to speed up the process,” said Chihana.

Nyamilandu  nonetheless argue that FAM  followed the required procedures in recommending the coaching panel’s removal.

He also said in the meantime, FAM will continue hunting for a caretaker coach in the forthcoming engagements while waiting for government to finalise the process of terminating the contracts of Kinnah and his backroom staff.

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