Malawi interested in Phiri's services

SOCCER – THE National Football Association (FA) must brace themselves for a stiff competition for the services of Zambian-born coach Patrick Phiri as it has emerged that Malawi are also considering engaging the respected coach as Technical Advisor for that country’s senior national team.

It was reported recently that the FA has approached the former Zambian national team mentor to take the coaching reigns at Sihlangu, currently being held by Swiss-born Raoul Savoy.

However, according to information sourced from the Kick-off website yesterday, Swaziland is not the only country eyeing the Zambian coach.

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is apparently considering engaging the services of Phiri on a temporary basis for the post of technical advisor ahead of the joint 2010 Afcon/World Cup qualifiers.

According to the Daily News in Malawi, FAM wanted to hire Phiri after they were fascinated with how Zambia put up a brave fight against the African champions Egypt during the Nations Cup in February.

“Some members feel that his overall experience is good for the Flames. Further to that Egypt struggled against Zambia. It was suggested that he should be hired on a temporary basis as we start the qualifiers to help our technical panel,” said the source.

During the Egypt-Zambia game, which ended 1-1, Egypt were pressurised throughout the match after the ‘Chipolopolo’ equalised through their captain Chris Katongo.

The development comes at a time when reports also indicate that FAM was also courting a Brazilian tactician for the same post. However, FAM chief executive officer Charles Nyirenda dismissed the reports.

Nyirenda said FAM would like to finish the recruitment of national coaches before embarking on that drive to hire a technical advisor.

“Meanwhile, there is a lot of discussions that are going on with sports council to come up with packages for the coaches.

"We can’t start discussions for the post of technical advisor until we sort the position of our national coaches,” he said.

Malawi will begin their World Cup preliminaries when they host Djibouti on May 31 before travelling to meet DR Congo a week later. The Flames will then host African champions Egypt on June 14.

Sihlangu face Togo in their opening qualifying match early next month and this newspaper reported yesterday that the FA is also locked in negotiations with Belgian coach Jan Van Winckel to convince him to return to the coaching seat.

Winckel left the coaching seat unceremoniously two years ago after falling out of favour with an influential Sihlangu official during the COSAFA Castle Cup in Botswana.