Top local coaches now have a chance to attain the ‘elusive’ CAF A coaching badge after the course got underway at Mpira Village in Blantyre yesterday.

The course is being held in the country after a decade and the National Football Coaches Association (NFCA) yesterday hailed the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) for organising it.

Lack of the CAF A licence led to some top local coaches such as Lovemore Fazili, Andrew ‘Aluki’ Chikhosi, Peter ‘Shoes’ Mgangira and Enos Chatama being barred from international assignments.

Recently, FAM announced that Fazili’s contract as Scorchers’ coach will not be renewed because he does not have the CAF A licence, which is the minimum requirement for a coach to be in charge of the national team at the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup.

This was after he led the Malawi Women’s National Football Team to the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, including the team’s qualification to the global showpiece.

Similarly,  Chikhosi, Mgangira and Chatama faced similar challenges at CAF Champions League Cosafa with Silver Strikers Ladies, CAF Champions League with Silver Strikers and Cosafa Under-20 Championship, respectively.

In an interview yesterday, NFCA chairperson Aubrey Nankhuni described the development as a big relief.

He said: “We are very excited that the course is finally back because most of our top coaches do not have an A licence which is a requirement for international competitions.

“We have had situations whereby our coaches failed to get exposed to the international stage because they did not have the required qualifications.

“Most of the coaches that obtained the A licences in 2016 are inactive. Now we have a pool of 25 coaches that have the potential to attain the badge. This is very encouraging.”

In an interview yesterday, CAF coaches instructor John Kaputa said he is excited to train the group for the course after taking them through the CAF B licence course.

“Thereafter, I will work on the pro-licence course which will be a significant development for Malawi football,” he said.

One of the partcipants, Masters FC head coach Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda said he is excited with the opportunity to add another feather to his coaching cap.

“This is what I have been looking forward to. It is an exciting challenge and I am on it,” he said.

According to fam.mw, other notable participants are  Flames assistant coach Pritchard Mwansa, Chatama, Chikhosi, Mgangira, former Flames players Joseph Kamwendo, Jimmy Zakazaka and Robert Ng’ambi.

Four female coaches, Carolyne Phiri, Chisomo Nkhoma, Linda Kasenda and Karen Chawula, are among the 25 selected participants.

In a statement, FAM said the return of the course was a significant step towards improving coaching standards in the country.