Mbeya replace Kinnah with Ramadhan

In a twist of events, Tanzania’s Vodacom League Mbeya FC have snatched former Nyasa Big Bullets coach Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan from Ndanda FC to replace fired Kinnah Phiri.

The club’s website yesterday posted a statement signed by communications officer Shah Mjanja welcoming the former Malawi’s Flames caretaker coach.

“Mbeya City team has reached an agreement with coach Nsanzurwimo Ramadhani as the coach. Ramadhan is expected to join the team in the on-going season,” reads the statement headed ‘Welcome Ramadhan’.

Ramadhan was not available for comment, but Mjanga confirmed the development in an interview yesterday, saying the coach has signed a year-long contract and is expected to start his job with a match against Mwadui FC this Saturday.

The Tanzanian club team manager Geoffrey Katepa also confirmed Ramadhan’s appointment in an interview yesterday, saying upon thorough screening of candidates, they settled for the Burundian.

“Yes, it is true that we have settled for Ramadhan, we feel he is the right replacement for Phiri because of his vast coaching experience,” he told said.

Ironically, Ramadhan was in Tanzania to finalise his deal with Ndanda FC, but Mbeya beat the fellow Vodacom League outfit to the Burundian’s signature.

The club parted ways with Kinnah over contractual disagreements two weeks ago.

Kinnah, was demanding a pay hike, but the club claimed it had no money after some sponsors pulled out due to last season’s poor performance.

Kinnah has since lodged a complaint with Fifa over a breach of contract on the part of the club, demanding K40 million compensation.

Ramadhan on the other hand, was also embroiled in a wrangle with his former club Bullets over the coach’s continued absence.

Bullets suspended Ramadhan in June over poor performance, but after the punishment, he opted to travel to Burundi to cheer a sick relation, only to resurface in Tanzanian on a job hunting mission. n