African Sports Monthly February 2014 Issue | Page 37

“While African FAs have tried and tested foreign coaches, especially those from Europe, they are reluctant to give the same opportunity to local mentors. They may have a point” he says and continues

“The setup of most African teams comprises of foreign-based players who are exposed to better training facilities at club level, sophisticated coaches who understand modern football and command respect worldwide, and better working and training conditions in general,” heexplained.

He add:“Therefore, foreign-based players pay a great deal of attention to instructions issued by European coaches whenever they are on international assignments, ……….. and see their level of training to be in tune with what they go through at club level.”

He further said foreign coaches have helped to instill discipline in African national teams.

“They are bold in taking decisions, while locals are sometimes timid and would prefer to protect their jobs rather than issue marching orders to insubordinate stars within a team,” he said. .

All expatriate coaches involved with Malawi’s soccer team have had a free hand but the local coaches had been subjected to extensive roasting especially when they discipline a star player and the decision happens to coincides with a loss.

In a continent where issues of ethnic identity also plays a role, big time local coaches might be prone to accusations that they are favoring players of a particular ethnicity of the country as well.

Former Malawian soccer coach; Phiri, was accused by fans of favoring players because of their origin and ethnicity.

Surprisingly, when he got the boot following a string of bad results, his successors picked up most of the very same players which he had selected.

“When I was in charge of the team I was accused of favoring some players in team selection. Yet when my successors took over they selected the very same

I am made to believe I was sacked out of jealousy,” Phiri told a local radio station recently.

Continued on Page 35

Indigenous African Coaches

Stephen Keshi

of Nigeria

Kwesi appiah of Ghana

Hassan Shehata of Egypt

Kinnah Phiri of Malawi