AS EXPECTED, MALAWI’S RUSSIA BASED PRO QUITS THE FLAMES

Nzika, according to Today’s Daily Times Newspaper, FAM says it is disappointed by disgruntled Russia based striker Esau Kanyenda’s early retirement from national team and will mediate between the forward and coach Kinnah Phiri.

TK, I agree with you on mental toughness but even coaches must have mental toughness. Yes Kinnah needs to get tough on his players when they underperform but he doesn’t need to wash dirty linen in public. You stated that “we see this all the time in the NBA where players get criticised for losing the game but it doesn’t come to this.” I have never heard a coach in the NBA say to the media: “we seriously need to change the ‘striking force’ and possibly put in young players.” That’s tantamount to saying “you are fired.” I don’t think Kinnah did mean to say that but because of psychological effects of poor performance. A coach needs to maintain his cool even after a loss. Remember Patrick Mabedi and John Maduka retired early because of similar situations. “Mbuzi za ma professional”? Anybody who understands football knows that blaming Kanyenda for the Flames’ poor results is just searching for a scapegoat. Yes Kanyenda failed to score but did we concede goals because of Kanyenda? Spain lost to U.S.A yesterday. The reason U.S.A won is because they also defended very well. Sometimes winning is about tactics. “Playing 4-5-1/4-4-1-1 in their first two games, the US were woeful and deserved the 3-1 and 3-0 beatings that Italy and Brazil handed to them. But bringing in Charlie Davies to partner Jozy Altidore in a 4-4-2, they’ve now beaten Egypt 3-0 and Spain 2-0.” So, I don’t think Kanyenda is solely to blame. How clear were the chances that Kanyenda missed? I am still looking for the video. If it’s true that Kanyenda missed about 6 clear chances then may be he should have been taken out after he missed 3 clear chances. I watched the game between Malawi and Ivory Coast. The goal keeper could have done better. I think after Ivory Coast scored 3 goals the goal keeper should have been taken out. Please note that the goalkeeper was not feeling well (and as you can see in the video, he is rehydrating himself just a minute into the game – after Ivory Coast scored) almost the entire week before the Ivory Coast game and yet he was in goals in a very big and important game. Why is there a substitute goal keeper? May be that explains why Kanyenda was still a National Team member despite not being in form the past 6 games. It seems even at a point when Kanyenda is not in his best form, he is way above many Malawian young strikers. In Kinnah’s own words: “If there is a person who believes in the youth, it is me. That is why I introduced Mwenda. People have to understand that we cannot just throw young players into the thick of things, we need to do it properly”

In related “washing dirty linen in the public” news, Ainge’s criticism of Rondo angers agent :

Rondo, who helped the Celtics win the 2008 NBA championship and averaged 16.9 points in this year’s playoffs, has been the subject of much trade speculation.

After telling reporters Tuesday that he does not intend to trade any of the Celtics core players this offseason, Ainge (Celtics General Manager) told WEEI on Wednesday that Rondo needed “to grow up” and that “his presence hurt” the team in its seven-game loss to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Ainge also said that Rondo, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, is not a “max contract player.”

“I am just surprised that Danny is speaking, even if he considers it constructively, in a public setting [about Rondo],” the player’s agent, Bill Duffy, told WEEI. “I don’t think that it’s appropriate to say that about one of your top players. Even if it’s spoken constructively, I don’t think it should be done in public. I don’t think he would like it if Wyc [Grousbeck, the organization's managing partner] was talking about him in public.

It’s just plain wrong washing dirty linen in public. Why was Arsenal’s William Gallas stripped of captaincy?

Posted from  United States

TK, I don’t think the author stated the main reason why Esau Kanyenda decided to quit. Did he quit because of criticism from the press/fans or because Kinnah criticized him in public? Being criticized by the press/fans and being criticized by your own coach in public are two different things. The fans booed Beckham and Lampard but did we hear the coach criticize the players in public? Even Beckham testifies: “In every football player’s eyes throughout the world it would be unprofessional to speak out about a team-mate, especially in the press and not to your face.”

When Kinnah said “…..they can’t score even when the goal keeper is not there” was it supposed to be figurative speech? I am yet to watch the match video (Guinea 2 Malawi 1) so I will not comment further until after I watch it.

I think I already gave my take on June 25 (further above). Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion.

Cherry picking

Cherry picking is deliberately picking out the data or scientific studies that support your view, while ignoring the data or studies that oppose your view.

15/06/1996, Johannesburg, World Cup Qualifier
Ernest Mtawali was at his best but Malola sidelined him for ”indiscipline”. Result Malawi 0 South Africa 3. South Africa won 4-0 on agg (they beat Malawi 1-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in a game Malawi should have won. BTW, Ernest Mtawali was man of the match).

9. National soccer coach dismissed
Malawi News Online (29) – 05/7/97

National soccer coach, Reuben Malola has been dismissed. The verdict to fire him was made at a meeting held on April 30 and attended by officials from the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) and the Football Association of Malawi (FAM).

At the meeting it was unanimously agreed that Malola’s performance with the national soccer team had not been impressive. The national team has been losing game after game due to what is believed to be a result of poor coaching. “Malola had run out of ideas,” said a FAM official who asked for anonymity. The straw that broke the camel’s back was Malawi’s 4-0 defeat at the hands of Zambia on 12 April in the Africa Castle Cup competition.

Who is to blame for Flames poor performance?

By PATRICK ACHITABWINO vs MPHATSO MALIDADI – Sunday, July 29, 2007 – 11:42:25

‘The coach, and not the players’
BY MPHATSO MALIDADI

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The Flames coach is also to blame for sidelining some players due to what he described as indiscipline. Some of the players include a goalkeeper with “the safest pair of hands” in name of South Africa based Swadick Sanudi and Silver Strikers forward Roderick Gonani. Malawians would like players Sanudi to play for the national team, instead of featuring those who deserve to be his substitutes.

Elsewhere when a coach drops a star-player, there is always a public outcry. At one point when England coach Steve MacClaren dropped David Beckham from his squad, he faced the wrath of the supporters and when he recalled him, Beckham gave out his best to help the side win matches. I wonder why Malawians are helplessly watching Constantine sidelining some stars. This does not necessarily mean that the coach should not discipline errant players. There are, however, many types of penalties that can be meted out to players instead of issuing a blanket ban on them.

Another shocker that Constantine has pulled is that of sidelining experienced coaches such as Kinnah Phiri, Lloyd Nkhwazi, Gilbert Chirwa, Kannock Munde and Young Chimodzi, who would have been ideal to be his backroom staff. If the speculations making rounds are anything to go by, the reason for sidelining them is his fear that they pose a threat to his job. That, too, is a very lame excuse and a sad development because assistant coaches are appointed so that they can take over the team in the absence of the head coach. It is doubtful if Constantine’s assistant Gerald Phiri has the professional expertise and experience to sit in and succeed his mentor.

…………………………..

Last but not least, I wouldn’t want to call professional players ‘mbuzi za ma professional” lest they also call me/us “mbuzi za ma bloggers.” Don’t do unto others what you wouldn’t want them to do unto you?

PEACE!!!!!!!!