2 weeks Ago By Mabvuto Kambuwe
A legal battle is set to ensue between immediate-past Malawi National Football Team coach Patrick Mabedi and Football Association of Malawi (Fam) after the former engaged a law firm to represent him in his demand for compensation after being fired. The development comes just a week after Fam terminated Mabedi’s contract following the Flames’ poor performance in all competitions. Mabedi has engaged private practice lawyer David Kanyenda through Kanyenda, Makiyi and Associates.
Kanyenda said they had received instructions from Mabedi to represent him in respect of matters concerning his employment relationship with Fam. In a press release made public last week, Fam stated that Mabedi’s contract was terminated following his team’s dismal performance and subsequent failure to qualify for the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals. Kanyenda said if Fam does not pay Mabedi his have no alternative but to sue.
salaries and benefits, they would “Our client’s contract was due for expiration in November 2025. Unless Fam pays our client the salaries and fringe benefits for the remainder of the contract duration, we shall be left without a viable alternative apart from litigation in the labour tribunal, the Industrial Relations Court [IRC],” Kanyenda said. However, Kanyenda did not disclose how much his client is demanding from Fam.
The former Kaizer Chiefs coach and player was on a K13 million salary apart from other benefits. He was entitled to K1.5 million motor vehicle allowance per month and also business class return air ticket.
Fam General Secretary Alfred Gunda expressed ignorance on the matter. “I am hearing this from you; so, no comment,” Gunda said. Fam had been paying Mabedi an annual salary of K157 million after the government refused to pay his salary.
This is not the first time for a former Flames coach to demand compensation after being dismissed as Meck Mwase dragged the association to IRC after he was fired. The court ordered Fam to pay Mwase K450 million after finding it guilty of unlawful termination of contract, redeployment and constructive dismissal. Mabedi initially got the job on a caretaker basis after the association fired Romanian Mario Marinica due to poor performance.
The Malawian brought instant results, leading the team to the semifinals of the 2023 Cosafa Championship for the first time in 20 years. This convinced Fam’s previous administration to reward him with a two-year deal. But things fell apart when Mabedi’s charges failed to collect a single point in four Afcon qualifiers played recently.
The association has since appointed FCB Nyasa Big Bullets mentor Kalisto Pasuwa as interim coach to lead the Flames in Afcon qualifiers against Burundi and Burkina Faso next week. Pasuwa has named his first 25-member squad for the two matches with several changes, including recalling star forward Gabadinho Mhango. Malawi will face Burundi on November 14 in Ivory Coast before hosting Burkina Faso at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe four days later.
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