Despite Football Association of Malawi’s announcement that the new coach Tom Saintfiet will work as a volunteer, the Belgian has said he will be on a two-month contract.
The former Yemen coach has told international media that he has agreed on a probational two-month contract with Football Association of Malawi (Fam) with a possibility of extending the contract if Malawi beats Nigeria and qualifies for the last round of 2014 World Cup qualification.
“I have agreed a two-month contract as national team coach of Malawi, this all with only one goal, try to qualify Malawi for the World Cup 2014 in Brazil,” Saintfiet told Cosafa.com
“Malawi play their last qualifier against Nigeria on September 6, if Malawi wins they are going to the last play-off matches and Nigeria will be out. I know Nigeria and I know Malawi, I am convinced that Malawi has the quality to win and qualify for the play-offs.
“I have only one goal and ambition, qualifying Malawi for the World Cup 2014 in Brazil! After the match against Nigeria we will see if we go further or not, if we win, it will be for sure yes.”
Belgian publication Walfoot.be, The Herald of Zimbabwe and Thisdaylive.com, also reported that the coach is on a full job. But Fam General Secretary Suzgo Nyirenda insisted that the coach would not be getting any stipend.
“Let’s just wait until he arrives. Only then will everything be cleared. But as far as we are concerned he is a volunteer and we will only be responsible for his accommodation and local running,” Nyirenda said.
The GS also said the coach would be in the country by Saturday when Malawi plays Mozambique in Independence Day Celebrations at Civo Stadium.
He, however, officially starts his job as Flames coach at the Cosafa Cup in Zambia as Malawi dates Zimbabwe in quarterfinals.
The game will be Saintfiet’s return to Cosafa after he also took Namibia to the last tournament in Zimbabwe in 2009. Saintfiet has coached in several countries; Belgium, Qatar, Germany, Faroe Islands, Finland and the Netherlands.
He has also coached Namibia, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. Before going to Namibia, Saintfiet was manager of Finnish Premier League club RoPS Rovaniemi. – By Joy Ndovi
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