Dan Dzinkambani, Karonga differ
Karonga United Head Coach Dan Dzinkambani has stepped down from his role after his side lost 3-1 to debutants Ekwendeni Hammers in a TNM Super League on Saturday at Karonga Stadium.
However, the club’s hierarchy insists Dzinkambani is still in charge of the team, having not officially notified the club.
In a post-match interview, Dzinkambani said he had left the post on personal grounds after some supporters insulted him as his charges were losing.
“I have resigned because of what is happening behind the scenes. I have enough reasons which I will disclose later. What has happened today [Saturday] is very unfortunate for the game of football.
“If things are not going on well, it is better to pave the way for others to continue. The team [Karonga] has got good players but there is something happening behind the scenes,” he said.
Dzinkambani also felt some of his charges did not wish the team well as some players were also betraying the side despite the club’s leadership working hard to improve the team.
“It seems there are some outsiders who are fighting the current administration and this is affecting me as a coach. In today [Saturday]’s game we gave them goals. So maybe they do not want me or the leadership. I do not have problems with the leadership,” said the former Silver Strikers mentor after Karonga gave away a 1-0 lead to lose 3-1 to Ekwendeni.
Soon after the match, Karonga United General Secretary Ramzy Simwaka said Dzinkambani had not tendered his resignation officially.
“It is news to us that our coach has resigned because we are hearing it from the media. He is yet to officially inform us,” he said.
However, Simwaka admitted that something was wrong after the side lost back-to-back games to Civil Service United and Ekwendeni.
Meanwhile, Karonga United Chairperson Mathews Tulombolombo, in an interview yesterday, said Dzinkambani made the decision out of anger following players’ reaction during the game.
“It is news to me and I just heard it on radio stations. The coach is yet to explain to us what is wrong. Here is the coach I trust and he is going to the media to announce his resignation without first telling me. I am sorry to say that he has let me down in one way or the other,” he said.
Tulombolombo said the club would launch investigations into their defeat to Ekwendeni.
Dzinkambani replaced Christopher Nyambose in 2019 and led the team to their first ever Airtel Top Eight Cup final in the same year, when they lost 1-0 to Silver Strikers.
During the game, Zikani Kasambara was on target twice for Ekwendeni, with Mabuchi Msiska scoring the other goal while Crispin Mhango scored for Karonga.
As we went to press, Karonga were ninth on the table with 11 points from nine games.
