Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has started contractual negotiations with newly-appointed Flames interim coach Patrick Mabedi.

The association’s general secretary (GS) Alfred Gunda said in an interview on Saturday that they hope to reach an agreement “as soon as possible”.

He said: “We had our first meeting on Friday and we are hoping to finalise the soonest, considering that we have the Cosafa Cup coming up.”

In a separate interview, Mabedi also confirmed having met the FAM GS.

Said the former Kaizer Chiefs caretaker coach: “We have not concluded yet, but we have made some progress and I will be waiting to hear from them.”

Mabedi, who was immediate-past coach Mario Marinica’s assistant, was appointed Flames interim coach by the FAM executive committee during a meeting held on April 22 in Salima.

Mabedi: We have
made progress

In a statement, FAM said the Malawi Under-20 national team coach will be in charge until September 2023.

The statement reads in part: “Mabedi will see the team through the two remaining 2023 Afcon [Africa Cup of Nations] qualifiers against Ethiopia in June and Guinea in September as well as the Cosafa Cup in May [this month].”

FAM said its choice was based on Mabedi’s involvement with the Flames for the past years and his experience at international level.

The statement further reads: “He has served as Flames assistant coach since May last year and he has been in charge of the Under-20 since 2020. He was also an assistant coach to EddingtoneNgonamo in 2013.

“The former Flames captain is one of the few local coaches with top international exposure, having coached in South Africa, including a stint with Kaizer Chiefs.”

The former FCB Bullets and Chiefs defender is expected to pick his own backroom staff

The post FAM wants speedy negotiations with Mabedi first appeared on The Nation Online.