‘Modern football is data driven’— Felix Ngamanya Sapao

* A very big core challenge in Malawian top-flight football is the limited adoption of modern technology, with over 80% of head coaches lacking basic computer literacy

* This digital divide hampers the integration of data-driven coaching methodologies, high-performance training, and sports psychology

By Duncan Mlanjira

Felix Ngamanya Sapao — Malawi’s prominent football agent, sports consultant and media analyst — contends that modern football is data driven and that Malawi needs to adapt it to bridge the gap between foreign clubs such as Zambia and Tanzania, which is huge.

Sapao, was responding and attesting to the role played by technical advisor Sudesh Singh played when for the holistic approach to high performance and elite-football system that unlocked Malawi Scorchers’ Women’s Africa Cup of Nations WAfCON Morocco 2026 historic accomplishment.

“I first encountered Sudesh Singh during his tenure at [South Africa’s club] Mamelodi Sundowns, where he studied under the late Ted Dumitru — a pioneer who introduced the Maximal Training methodology to the club,” says Sapao.

“Sudesh was serving as Chief Scout alongside Trott Moloto, Mike Ntombela and Harris Cheu in 2008. Sudesh played a pivotal role in scouting the 15/16-year-old Robin Ngalande for the Sundowns Academy.”

Sapao, further observed that to complement Tawonga Chimodzi’s technical setup with the Scorchers, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) brought in performance analyst Tyrese Steyn alongside Sudesh.

“Modern football is data driven,” emphasises Sapao, who has worked as an analyst for major broadcaster Azam TV during major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup.

“We need to adapt to that in Malawi because the gap between foreign clubs such as in Zambia and Tanzania is huge.

“A very big core challenge in Malawian top-flight football is the limited adoption of modern technology, with over 80% of head coaches lacking basic computer literacy.

“This digital divide hampers the integration of data-driven coaching methodologies, high-performance training, and sports psychology.

“Consequently, the vast majority of domestic clubs operate without dedicated performance analysts or certified Strength & Conditioning (S&C) specialists.”

The impact of modern backroom staff

Ngamanya contends that when Zimbabwean coach Kalisto Pasuwa took charge at Nyasa Big Bullets, “he modernised the club’s operations by recruiting performance analyst Desmond Mhene and S&C coach Majaha Ndhlovu”.

“This structured focuse on physical preparation produced players capable of maintaining peak intensity across the full 90 minutes.

“You will note that recently [Bullets Zambian head coach] has adopted a similar framework by integrating analyst Lemekani Mwanza and S&C coach Donwell Yobe into his staff.

“I can sum it up that in contemporary football, combining certified S&C protocols with GPS tracking technology is essential to accurately measure player conditioning, workload, and match readiness.”

Tactical analysis in practice — the Scorchers’ case study

Ngamanya observes that the critical role of performance analysis was evident during the Scorchers WAfCON campaign”, explaining: “Facing Nigeria in their opening fixture, the Scorchers benefited from the element of surprise, as Nigeria’s opposition analysts lacked tape on the Chawinga sisters due to their absence from earlier friendly matches.

“In contrast, Cameroon executed a meticulously prepared game plan. Assistant coach Dimitri Lipoff — having previously coached the Chawinga sisters in China — possessed firsthand knowledge of their style of play.

“Supported by detailed opposition analysis, Cameroon successfully neutralised the threat by employing coordinated numerical marking whenever either Chawinga sister received the ball.

“During one post match interview, one of the Indomitable Lionesses said it that they had to mark the Chawinga sisters in numbers wherever they had the ball,” said Ngamanya, who is well-known for facilitating international player transfers.

He was involved in moving Malawian players to Democratic Republic of the Congo’s and African giants TP Mazembe and is serving as a regional football analyst.

He operates as a licensed player intermediary, managing high-profile transfers and representing regional clubs and talents.

In an interview with South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) after the WAfCON, Sudesh Singh applauded FAM for adopting the holistic approach to his high-performance expertise, saying the Maximal Training methodology and philosophy he introduced goes beyond what happens on the football pitch.

“Using our Maximal Training (MT) methodology/philosophy, both for on-the-field and off-the-field preparations, was a key factor, he told SABC. “MT isn’t just a ‘training’ methodology but a holistic approach for High Performance and Elite football, as everything in football is interlinked.

“You can’t achieve success on the field of play if it’s not matched by excellence and professionalism off the field and behind the scenes.”