By Rabson Woodwell
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Some soccer experts have expressed their dissatisfaction with the newly appointed coach for the Malawi Women’s National Football team by Football Association of Malawi (FAM).
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) appointed Maggie Chombo-Sadiki as Head Coach for the Under 20 Women’s National Football team to lead Malawi during the 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The ex- national team player will be assisted by Kondwani Mwalweni and Scollastica Khunga. Wilson Mkandawire is the fitness trainer, Milly Kumwenda and Lina Mtegha are team doctor and team manageress respectively.
Confirming the development on Saturday, Football Association of Malawi (FAM)’s General Secretary Alfred Gunda said all the appointed members have accepted their appointments.
He further said that FAM did this in consultation with the Coaches Association of Malawi and the National Women’s Football Association to engage the panel urgently following the draw and the fixture for the forthcoming competition.
However, soccer commentator Zacharia “Corner man” Kasakula feels U20 teams need a coach who has good experience in youth development and should have a good relationship with the young stars.
Kasakula has said U20 needs a coach who has been with the Women’s National teams for long time for better transition. Maggie Chombo is a coach who has not been with the national teams for some time.
“However, I would rather like appointing Andrew Chikhosi who was second to Abel Mkandawire since he has been with the team for long time and has a lot of experience. Chikhosi has also developed DD Sunshine which has won several trophies,” he said.
Maxwell Kachere of Nkhoma Synod Radio, a soccer analyst, has classified Chombo as a coach who failed on her role as Technical Director of Malawi Women’s national teams, as such; he thinks she cannot lead this team to any success.
“I feel there is nothing new she can bring to the national team but disappointment to soccer lovers. It looks like these appointments are motivated by some incentives between the appointees and those who appoint.” He said.
Another sport clinic who has put Maggie under litmus test is Bright Lunda a sport journalist who suggests that Under 20 teams are mostly for development purposes which needs proper transition (hand over) for better results.
Lunda doubts her ability to develop a player since she has failed that several times. He says Chombo does not have a motivating story that can inspire the young players; we would be wasting a chance to have a better coach who can really motivate the players.
The coach’s mandate is to lead the team in the 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers which starts later this month with Malawi playing Zimbabwe.
