Football Analysts support Malawi coach Mtawali

Ernest Mtawali

Thursday Jun 30, 2016. 13:42

Despite criticism directed to the Malawi national team coach Ernest Mtawali, football analysts have shown support to the Flames legend.

Football Analyst Ernest Maganga has also weighed in on the coaching issue surrounding the national side with calls mounting for a new manager.

According to the Nyasa Times, Maganga believes the former Orlando Pirates and Bloemfontein Celtic player is the only legend available to guide the Flames.

"I feel there is no better Malawian coach to train our young players than him,” Maganga said.

“This is the guy Malawi consider as the best of the best as far as football players are concerned.

"Malawi has never produced a more successful player as him having played in big leagues.

“There is nothing that he doesn’t know that our less skilled national team players can’t benefit.

"Even if we bring the most experienced and successful coaches of the world, nothing will change in the near future.

REPORT: ERNEST MTAWALI SET TO BE AXED AS MALAWI HEAD COACH

“We need to develop our game from grassroots. This has always been our song for years with no progress."

Echoing Maganga's sentiments is Felix Sapao, who believes changing coaches is not the best solution.

“Changing coaches won’t solve any problem, the problem is we look for instant results," adds Sapao.

"Football has no shortcuts. Yet we are taking short cuts into the senior national team.

“We now need to plan for 2019 AFCON but with a goal of qualification to 2021 AFCON and with a look at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

"Forget about 2019 AFCON cause we will not get there especially that we don’t have junior (U-17, U-20 & U-23) national teams to feed the senior team accordingly without short cuts."

The Flames are out of the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers and will not participate in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers starting in October.