Nam reviews contracts for coaches, backroom staff

Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) has started reviewing contracts for national team coaches and members of the backroom staff following reports that they lack performance-related clauses, Times Sport has learnt.

However, Nam General Secretary, Yamikani Khunga- Kauma, while confirming the development, dismissed claims that it was witch-hunting.

“The exercise is not selective because it applies to every member of the technical panel for all the teams, be it the senior side or junior national team. We have noticed that some of the contracts do not have clauses and, yet, every contract needs performance-related clauses.

“We are reviewing the contracts so that they can be amended. Otherwise, everyone’s job is safe but we need to level the field,” she said.

The current coaches for senior and junior teams were named by the past immediate administration.

Malawi National Netball Team Coach Joanna Kachilika could not be reached for a comment. She is assisted by former Queens goal defender Ellenour Mapulanga.

Kachilika replaced Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa after the latter fell out of favour with the previous administration.

Meanwhile, sports analyst Frank Chakanga has backed the current regime for taking the right direction.

“What has to be understood is that the previous committee might have forgotten an important element in the contracts for coaches and backroom staff, which is a clause on performance.

“The current committee has picked up the anomaly and they are trying to clear the mess, which is good for the organisation because, in future, they will avoid litigation in the event someone has been fired,” Chakanga said.

He said in sports, stakeholders cannot ignore performance-related clauses.

“Contracts for coaches and backroom staff should be performance-based and that is the way to go. For the coaches that can perform, they will not worry and the opposite is true for non-performers,” Chakanga said.

The Queens were due to regroup last month in preparation for the Spar Test Series against South Africa to run from October 26 to November 3.

Recently, Nam raised about K15 million from a Corporate Sports Festival after staging events in Blantyre and Lilongwe.