Mighty Wanderers’ commercialisation drive got a major boost after business mogul Thom Mpinganjira accepted to be the club’s first president.
Mpinganjira, a renowned banker, was unveiled as Wanderers’ president at his residence in Nyambadwe Township, Blantyre, and he promised to turn the club into a force to reckon with on the continent.
“We need to emulate what other big teams in Africa are doing. We need to follow what the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and other big sides are doing,” he said.
Mpinganjira said, to achieve that, he would endeavour to promote players’ welfare.
“Players should get what is due to them,” he said.
However, Mpinganjira said he did not condone indiscipline, calling on Wanderers supporters to be peaceful.
“We should be united and avoid squabbles,” he said.
Wanderers chairperson Chancy Gondwe said they were relieved that Mpinganjira had accepted to be the team’s president.
“It is a dream come true. When we embarked on the commercialisation process, we wanted people of his status to help us turn around the team’s fortunes. It was a collective decision, where all stakeholders agreed to persuade Mpinganjira to pick up the post,” he said.
The announcement did not come as a surprise as Mpinganjira donated about K20 million to Wanderers in February to help sort out players’ arrears following the departure of the team’s sponsors, Be Forward Limited, on December 31 last year.
Wanderers Supporters chairperson Mervin Nkunika acknowledged that they were part of the process.
The team’s taskforce chairperson Humphreys Mvula said they settled for Mpinganjira to be the club’s president because of his business acumen.
“We think he can help us commercialise the club. To him, money-making is not a problem,” he said.
