Pasuwa’s dream job goes up in smoke

Former Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa

FORMER Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa’s intended move to Malawi to coach their senior soccer team went up in smoke on Monday after the football federation announced the country’s withdrawal from the Chan and the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifiers which kick off in June.

Several coaches including former Warriors goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar had been linked with the biggest coaching job in Malawi football.

Former Warriors coach, Ian Gorowa, former Zambia coach, Honour Janza and Paolo Duarte had also been bandied about although it was Pasuwa who was leading candidate.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) had even contacted Pasuwa’s manager Gibson Mahachi over the availability of the former Warriors coach.

On Monday, the FAM executive announced in a statement that they had suspended the recruitment of an expatriate coach owing to lack of funding.

The football federation said their proposal and justification to recruit an expatriate coach sent to the government was turned down on the grounds of cash flow problems.

“The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) would like to inform the general public and all its stakeholders that at its Executive Committee Meeting held in Lilongwe on 11th March 2017, the Association, among other things, considered the recruitment of the Malawi National Senior Football team (“the team”) coach, and funding for the Malawi National Football Team engagements.

As you may all recall, FAM, having earlier examined and identified the dire extent of the current gaps and shortfalls in the team, resolved that an experienced and well qualified expatriate coach be engaged.

Accordingly, a comprehensive proposal and justification was sent to the Government as the financiers. It was expected that the expatriate coach was going to drill our current crop of players to international levels for better performance of the team.

It was also expected that the expatriate coach was going to provide mentorship to our local coaches with a view of them taking over the team at the expiry of his contract. As we are all aware, the proposal has been declined on the account of the current adverse economic situation that the country is facing.

The meeting also discussed a number of engagements that had been planned for the team notably the CHAN and Africa Cup of Nations competitions. During several rounds of consultations and discussions it was very clear that due the current economic problems, the Government will not be able to provide funding for the team for its participation in the above two tournaments,’’ reads part of the statement.

Contacted for comment, Pasuwa’s manager, Gibson Mahachi said they were not in a hurry. “We are aware of the position which Malawi has taken. We are not in a hurry. Pasuwa is taking a break at the moment,” said Mahachi.

Pasuwa led the Warriors to their third African Cup of Nations finals in Gabon in January but failure to go beyond the group stages did not please his employers ZIFA who decided against renewing his contract. – sportbrief.co.zw