Mighty Mukuru Wanderers rebuilding exercise has received a huge dent following the departure of coach Meck Mwase exposing what might be behind the scenes.
On Thursday, Wanderers announced the firing of Mwase after the coach absconded from work without prior notice.
Mwase became the third Wanderers coach to leave the team in 10 months following the departures of Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan who had replaced Briton Mark Harrison.
Malawi News Sport has learnt there is an inhabitable atmosphere at Wanderers, which threatens to derail the team’s mission.
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Renowned as ‘angerezi’ [smart people], Wanderers had sound organisation and administration in the past which resulted in being serial winners.
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However, Wanderers have won two trophies in the last seven years, including the 2017 TNM Super League championship and 2022 Airtel Top 8.
Yet at the start of the 2024 season, Wanderers regrouped in a different style, with a new board and of course a new tagline ‘making Mighty Wanderers Mighty Again’.
It appears that the more new faces come at Wanderers the more things remain the same.
In January, Wanderers President Thompson Mpinganjira exercising his powers dissolved the previous board which comprised Chancy Gondwe, who was the legal advisor and company secretary, Chairperson of Finance Mervis Mangulenje, Chairperson of Football Development Limbani Magomero, Humphreys Mvula, Adellaide Migogo (both Directors) and Ulemu Jeremoth Chilapondwa ex-official member.
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In his next move, Mpinganjira ignored the likes of Mvula, Clement Stambuli and Chilapondwa but maintained Gondwe, Mangulenje, Limbani Magomelo and Christopher Gondwe in the new board while bringing in new faces David Kanyenda, Madalitso Musa, Tiya Somba Banda and Andrex Kalinde.
Despite the change in administration, Ramadhan resigned in May before Mwase took over on an interim basis.
Mwase was later confirmed coach before he went absent without leave early in the month.
Nomads Head of Technical and Recruitment Tiya Somba Banda confessed to Malawi News Sport that they have been left guessing on what exactly is the problem at the club.
“We do not know why Mark Harrison left when he had a chance to win silverware. Then came Meck whom we did not give any targets but has disappeared with the team still in contention for Castel Challenge Cup and second in the league with five games to go. This is also how we lost Ramadhan for Meck to take over. We are also confused,” Banda said.
He, however, brushed off allegations that his office interfered with technical panel decisions.
“If you ask all the coaches, they will tell you that all we do is a mandatory evaluation meeting that we do which they have always appreciated there is nothing like interference.
“Meetings like these help us plan for the next upcoming matches and a post-mortem of the past games,” Banda said while confirming that Bob Mpinganjira will remain at the helm for the rest of the season.
However, Mvula, a former board member, faulted Wanderers for appointing Harrison and Ramadhan.
“We made a mistake recruiting Harrison as his CV clearly showed that he does not settle at one club. It was wrong again to appoint Ramadhan as he did not even understand the size of responsibility he had as a coach, he was only a sweet talker,” Mvula said.
However, Wanderers former player Sherry Msuku blamed the players for the team’s poor showing.
“From afar I think Wanderers players lack discipline and commitment. As such they need a coach who should be able to stamp his authority to get rid of unruly players,” Msuku said.
Wanderers are second in the TNM Super League with 50 points from 24 games with Silver Strikers leading the pack with 54 points and have a game in hand.
