Revealed: the reasons behind Mtawali’s firing

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Ernest Mtawali

Flames mentor was relieved of his duties over the weekend as Malawi24 disclosed on Monday although the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) tried to shrug off the news as a lie.

FAM sub-technical committee said on Saturday that Flames head coach Ernest Mtawali and his deputy Nsazuwrimo Ramadhan were working in isolation.

There was no coordination among the two and it is of no surprise that the team faltered on its way to the death bed of African football.

According to information gathered by Malawi24, a report from the committee  led by Vice President James Mwenda, faulted Mtawali for ‘deliberately’ choosing to ignore his deputy since taking over from Young Chimodzi on 31st July last year.

According to the report, Ramadhan was never given a chance to have a ‘say’ on the selection of players, he was not allowed to take part during the team’s training sessions and was not allowed to give his input on the first 11 for the team during matches.

Ernest Mtawali
Ernest Mtawali had problems with his workmates.

The committee then advised FAM not to renew Mtawali and his deputy’s contracts once they expire on 31st July next month.

The sub-committee resolved to appoint Ramadhan as a care-taker coach and will only be considered if he delivers for the team.

Since taking over from his predecessor, Mtawali only managed to register five wins from 14 games and is yet to register a win in the on-going 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Mtawali was appointed on 1 August 2015 for a one year contract to be the Malawi Coach.

He took over from Young Chimodzi who was sacked in June, 2015, following the Flames’ 2-1 home loss to Zimbabwe in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Mtawali had been charged with putting the Flames’ 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Cup qualifiers campaign back on track and ensuring progress in the preliminary round qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He failed to do both.