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Malawi football and Ronny van Geneugden (RVG)'s romance, which started on a positive note when he was given a contract to coach Malawi national football teams on April 7, 2017 reaches its lowest point today when the Belgian departs the country through Chileka International Airport in less than one hour.
To be missed: RVG (middle)
This is because, despite being grossly misunderstood, RVG has done a lot for Malawi football.
In fact, the roots of his philosophy will take long to uproot; for his philosophy is positive.
As Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President, Walter Nyamilandu, said the other day, "the Malawi Flames are playing like Barcelona".
RVG is going home barely two months after doing the best things for Malawi football and Malawi development.
This is because he recently took the Malawi under-23 to Belgium, where they camped for weeks on end.
Good man sent home: RVG (left) with Nyamilandu
Just two weeks ago, he donated items valued at over K100 million to flood victims, after Cyclone Ida devastated parts of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe-- killing 60 people in Malawi, hundreds in Mozambique and dozens in Zimbabwe. In total, over 1,000 people died.
RVG, ever the loving father, mobilized his friends in Belgium, the very friends that donated boots to football players that camped in Belgium, and, through such efforts-of-love, brought the items to Malawi.
Today, those in camps have something to smile about.
I met RVG in shopping malls in Blantyre a couple of times. I greeted him in the vernacular Chichewa and he responded accordingly. What an affable fella.
But, then, he came to serve people who are starved of success; people who want so much in so little a time; people who want to sow where they did not sow.
To say the truth, even the best coaches in the world cannot achieve positive results with the Flames; and the problem is as deep-rooted as age-cheating.
Some of the players who play for the under-23 side are 29-plus years.
Some of the players who wear national team colours are too old to learn new skills.
But the nation, starting with journalists who know nothing about football, ganged up against RVG in calling for quick-fire results.
Did a lot in two years for Malawi football: RVG (right)
They ganged up, with the FAM Technical Sub-Committee, to send RVG, a man like no other in technical ability and good deeds, home.
It is a sad day for Malawi, even as the good man RVG heads home through Chileka International Airport.
See you again RVG; in a place better than this.
This is because, despite being grossly misunderstood, RVG has done a lot for Malawi football.
In fact, the roots of his philosophy will take long to uproot; for his philosophy is positive.
As Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President, Walter Nyamilandu, said the other day, "the Malawi Flames are playing like Barcelona".
RVG is going home barely two months after doing the best things for Malawi football and Malawi development.
This is because he recently took the Malawi under-23 to Belgium, where they camped for weeks on end.
Just two weeks ago, he donated items valued at over K100 million to flood victims, after Cyclone Ida devastated parts of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe-- killing 60 people in Malawi, hundreds in Mozambique and dozens in Zimbabwe. In total, over 1,000 people died.
RVG, ever the loving father, mobilized his friends in Belgium, the very friends that donated boots to football players that camped in Belgium, and, through such efforts-of-love, brought the items to Malawi.
Today, those in camps have something to smile about.
I met RVG in shopping malls in Blantyre a couple of times. I greeted him in the vernacular Chichewa and he responded accordingly. What an affable fella.
But, then, he came to serve people who are starved of success; people who want so much in so little a time; people who want to sow where they did not sow.
To say the truth, even the best coaches in the world cannot achieve positive results with the Flames; and the problem is as deep-rooted as age-cheating.
Some of the players who play for the under-23 side are 29-plus years.
Some of the players who wear national team colours are too old to learn new skills.
But the nation, starting with journalists who know nothing about football, ganged up against RVG in calling for quick-fire results.
They ganged up, with the FAM Technical Sub-Committee, to send RVG, a man like no other in technical ability and good deeds, home.
It is a sad day for Malawi, even as the good man RVG heads home through Chileka International Airport.
See you again RVG; in a place better than this.
