Under-20 national soccer team coach Ernest Mtawali has said he is set for the new challenge as Flames caretaker coach.
Mtawali was appointed national soccer team stand-in coach by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) executive committee at its emergency meeting held in Blantyre on Sunday following a disappointing start to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zimbabwe’s Warriors.
The Flames went down 2-1 in a match they were tipped to win, a result that led to the removal of head coach Young Chimodzi and his deputy Jack Chamangwana.
“I accept the challenge with both hands. I accept the challenge with both hands and it is an honour for  me to be trusted with the national team though temporarily.
“Young and Jack laid the foundations and I will continue from there. Over the years, I have learnt a lot from them during my time as an upcoming player and then as an upcoming coach,” said Mtawali.
He will take charge of the team in the international friendly match against Uganda Cranes which will be part of the country’s 51st Independence Anniversary Celebrations.
FAM emergency executive committee meeting  resolved that they had lost confidence in Chimodzi and Chamangwana who have been sent on leave pending the expiry of their contract on July 31 2015.
“FAM has resolved to recommend to Malawi Government not to renew the contracts of employment of the current Malawi national football team’s head Coach and his assistant which are due for expiry on 31st July 2015,” the association said in a statement yesterday.
“FAM would like to note that it has lost confidence in the coaches due to poor performance of the Malawi national football team generally during their term of engagement culminating into the recent loss to the Zimbabwe national football team.”
The association stated that in consultation with government, it will advertise the head coach post with the new mentor expected
to be named by August 1 2015.
“FAM will cast its net wider both locally and internationally in search for a new coach,” the statement further read..