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Govt asks Gillett to hold his breath
By
Garry Chirwa - 02-04-2003 |
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Government said on Tuesday it is a bit too early for national coach Allan Gillett to start inquiring about his future with the Flames.
Director of sports in the Ministry of Sports Bester Kalombo said there was no need for Gillett to lose his sleep over his future with the Flames because he still has another two months and a couple of weeks before the expiry of his four-month contract.
“While we appreciate the procedure he has taken by approaching Fam who will later take it up with government through Sports Council, we feel it’s a bit too early for Allan to start talking about his future with the Flames.
“To begin with he has been here for just over a month....what we agreed with the English FA was that he will be on a four-month contract and thereafter Fam will have to express interest on whether they still require his services,” said Kalombo.
He added: “Even if Fam asks government consider extending his contract, the guiding principle is that we will have to look at the budget and see if we can still afford to pay Allan his monthly salary and other benefits.”
Kalombo further said that at the moment there is nothing of that sort on the Ministry’s menu, “because we believe there is still a lot of time and there are a number of conditions to look at.”
Fam general secretary Chris Kamphinda Banda said in a separate interview the association is yet to discuss Gillett’s future with the national soccer team.
“I would say that the issue will have to be discussed by the executive which will come up with a decision and its recommendations,” said Kamphinda Banda.
Gillett said earlier in the day he had already approached Fam on the future of his contract, indicating that he would love to extend his romance with the Flames.
“Obviously I would like to stay on and hopefully it will work out, I will be disappointed if my contract will not be renewed,” said Gillett whose first task was to guide the Flames against Nigeria’s Super Eagles in an African Nations Cup qualifier played last Saturday.
The British mentor is expected to leave the country later this week for United Kingdom for a couple of weeks to sort out some technical issues with the FA.
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