The Maravi Post

MZUZU--Flames coach Kinnah Phiri has been officially relieved of his duties as national football team's mentor and has since been relocated to Regional Sports Development Offices of Sports Council in the Northern Region, government has communicated.

 The same fate has befallen Kinnah's deputy Young Chimodzi and technical adviser Jack Chamangwana who have also been relocated to the regional offices in the central and southern regions respectively.

"Government in its continued effort of sports service to the nation, has therefore with immediate effect relocated Messrs Kinnah Phiri, Young Chimodzi and Jack Chamangwana to Regional Sports Development Offices of Sports Council," reads the statement from government in part adding that Football Association of Malawi (FAM) had lost trust and confidence in the technical panel such that government couldn't entrust them to continue coaching the national football team.

According to the statement signed by Justin Saidi, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, government considered all the facts and having heard from the trio's side of the story, it thought it wise to endorse FAM's decision.

"Having considered that the three members of the technical panel are employees of government and that FAM did not anymore wish for their service to the national football team, the ministry has henceforth resolved that the recommendation by the association to dissolve the technical panel due to poor performance, be respected and let it to stand as it is aimed at bettering the performance of the national team.

"Furthermore, this is also in consideration and understanding of the fact that the ministry has no mandate what-so-ever to interfere in programs and activities or management of the national football team or FAM as promulgated by Fifa," further reads the statement released Friday.

But unlike Chamangwana and Chimodzi who have since accepted government's decision, Kinnah said he had not yet received official communication from government.

"However, once I get the communication I'll consult with my lawyers [Wilson and Morgan] and then map the way forward because I was employed as national football team coach. And based on that, I'm afraid I can't say whether or not I've accepted the relocation," Kinnah told Nation on Sunday.

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