Mighty Wanderers president Thomson Mpinganjira has warned the club’s players against indiscipline, saying they should focus on giving out their best instead of prioritising monetary gains.
The business mogul and philanthropist said this during the team’s 2026 Presidential Ball Awards at Golden Peacock in Blantyre on Sunday, where he warned that the club will take a tough stance against any player involved in unprofessional behaviour in the 2026 season.
| Courtesy of Mighty Wanderers
“I have been receiving messages from some players,asking for money yet they are among the footballers that get the best game bonuses in the country. That is not on and that behaviour must stop,” he said.
While applauding the main team for ending an eight-year top-flight league title drought, Mpinganjira, who was accompanied by his wife Triephornia, also warned the players against refusing to take penalties in matches, saying such attitude has been costly to the team.
“I do not want to see that happening again next season,” he said .
Most of the Wanderers players reportedly avoided taking penalties in crucial stages of the 2025 cup competitions such as the FDH Bank Cup final against Silver Strikers and during the semi-final of the Castel Challenge Cup against Mzuzu City Hammers. The Nomads ended up losing both games.
Mpinganjira, who doubles as the club’s board chairperson, also told head coach Bob Mpinganjira and his assistant McDonald Mtetemera not to rely on juju during matches because, by doing so, they will be undermining his authority.
“Juju practices do not bring results, they only disrupt players focus’ and determination. Previously, the club was spending millions on such beliefs, but we were still losing games,” he said.
Mpinganjira further clarified that Ekhaya Farms Foods, a company he owns, does not sponsor any football club in the country although the brand is associated with top-flight league sides Wanderers and Ekhaya FC.
He said he personally sponsors Wanderers while Ekhaya FC is bankrolled by his son William who is also FDH Holdings Limited group chief executuve officer.
“There has been too much talk about this and I would like to make it clear that Ekhaya does not sponsor any club in the country,” he said.
Wanderers also took advantage of the awards to unveil the club’s kits for 2026 season.
The club’s chief executive officer Panganeni Ndovi said although the uniforms still bear the 888Bet logos despite the sponsorship contract with the betting company ending last season, they will continue using them.
“At the time a decision was made not to extend the deal, the uniforms and replicas were already being processed,” he said.
During the awards, Blessings Singini’s name reverberated in the hall after the midfielder bagged three accolades and a total of K1.6 million. He claimed the club’s Player of the Season Award apart from being named the Best Midfielder while his strike against Moyale Barracks was named Goal of the Season.
For being Player of the Season, he received K1 million of K500 000 came from Mpinganjira and a similar amount from the club’s partners Smile Life Insurance Company. The Best Midfielder of the Season and the Best Goal of the Season accolades were worth K300 000 each.
Singini, who emerged as Player of the Tournament in the 2025 FDH Bank Cup and 2025 TNM Super League Best Midfielder, said it was a great honour to be appreciated by his club for his outstanding performance.
Promise Kamwendo emerged as the Best Striker while Emmanuel Nyirenda was named the Best Defender. The Most Improved Player of the Season Award went to midfielder Daniel Kudonto Jnr while Blessings Mwalilino scooped the Young Player honours.
Goalkeeper Dalitso Khungwa, who had 17 clean sheets in 21 games in 2025, won the Best Goalkeeper Award as fellow goal-minder Richard Chipuwa bagged the Longest-serving Player Award.
Defender Stanley Sanudi took the Team Player Award. This was the only award that saw players having the privilege of voting.
Mtetemera was bestowed the President’s Special Award.
