Muhammad Selemani bemoans Masters downfall
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Executive Member, Muhammad Selemani said it was disheartening to learn that Masters Security had disbanded.
Selemani, who started football administration at Big Bullets, confessed that he become popular in football circles because of his role as Masters’ Team Manager.
However, he believes the team would have been in the TNM Super League if the management and players were united.
“The feeling was really bad when we thought that the team would still be a force to reckon with in the elite league then the unexpected happened. It was painful when we heard that the team was failing to win matches anymore,” Selemani said.
Selemani and former Masters General Secretary, Zacharia Nyirenda left the club last year to contest at Sulom. Nyirenda was elected Sulom Vice Secretary whereas Selemani was elected Sulom Legal Adviser before being elected Fam Executive Member this year.
“I remember my friend Zacharia Nyirenda [former Masters General Secretary] and myself left the team after the 2018 season to contest at Sulom. We left happily having won the Carlsberg Cup and finished on position four in the elite League. Masters Security gave me the platform to fight for higher positions in football administration in Malawi. Of course, I was already known having had a stint with Bullets in the executive prior to the time I joined Masters as Team Manager,” Selemani said.
He felt that losing key players last year was another influential factor that led to Masters’ downfall.
Masters lost top players such as Babatunde Adepoju, Francis Mkonda, Eric Atsigah and Vincent Nyangulu.
Meanwhile, Selemani sympathised with the club’s patron Alfred Gangata saying he did everything possible to turn around the team.
“Learning of its relegation from the elite league following its poor run was bad. I think the patron had challenges which he actually failed to overcome as a sole owner of the team. The business environment could not allow him to sustain his finances. The team had also lost its key players to some of the giant teams. It is just unfortunate that the team is disbanding now.
“We will live to remember Master. The patron Mr Alfred Gangata must be hailed for his efforts of improving football in Malawi. The man used his money from his own companies which is so rare in our Malawian setup,” Selemani said.
Selemani said it was tough for Gangata to continue bankrolling the side.
