Ernest Mtawali

{{short description|Malawian footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ernest Mtawali

| image =

| fullname = Ernest-Chirwali Mtawali

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|10|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Malawi

| height =

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1984–1992

| clubs1 = Bloemfontein Celtic

| years2 = 1992–1994

| clubs2 =Mamelodi Sundowns

|years3= 1994–1995 |clubs3= Newell's Old Boys |caps3= 4 |goals3=0

|years4= 1995–1996 |clubs4= Talleres

|years5= 1997–1999 |clubs5= Toulouse FC |caps5=27 |goals5= 0

|years6= 1999–2000 |clubs6=Al-Wehda

|years7= 2000–2003 |clubs7= Orlando Pirates

|years8= 2003–2004 |clubs8=Ajax Cape Town

|manageryears1=2015–2016

|managerclubs1=Malawi

| nationalyears1 = 1986–2003

| nationalteam1 = Malawi

| nationalcaps1 = 27

| nationalgoals1 = 2

}}

Ernest Mtawali, also known as Ernest Chirwali,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/1351804.stm|title=South Africa to throw out Mtawali|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 May 2001|accessdate=15 June 2015}} (born October 10, 1966) is a retired Malawian football (soccer) midfielder.

Mtawali initially played for Hardware Stars in his home country. In South Africa he played for Welkom Real Hearts, Bloemfontein Celtic, Sundowns FC, Orlando Pirates, Hellenic FC and Ajax Cape Town. He also had stints with Newell's Old Boys in Argentina, Toulouse FC in France, Al-Wehda in Saudi Arabia and also represented his country's national team.{{fact|date=September 2023}}

He is also reported to have played in the Italian third division, under a false name in order to evade a FIFA ban on players who had played in Apartheid-era South Africa.{{cite book|title=Feet of the Chameleon: The Story of African Football|author=Ian Hawkey|publisher=Portico|year=2010|page=178}}

He was appointed as caretaker manager of the Malawi national team in June 2015.{{cite web|title=Malawi hires Ernest Mtawali as caretaker coach: Chimodzi, Chamangwana released |url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/2015/06/14/malawi-hires-ernest-mtawali-as-caretaker-coach-chimodzi-chamangwana-released/ |publisher=NyasaTimes.com |accessdate=15 June 2015 |date=14 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615080309/http://www.nyasatimes.com/2015/06/14/malawi-hires-ernest-mtawali-as-caretaker-coach-chimodzi-chamangwana-released/ |archivedate=15 June 2015 }}