The National Football Coaches Association yesterday officially welcomed FCB Nyasa Bullets’ Zambian coach Wedson Nyirenda into its fold.
During the ceremony held at Bullets’ Ginnery Corner offices in Blantyre, the association’s chairperson Aubrey Nankhuni said they are excited to welcome Nyirenda on board.
He said: “It is our custom that whenever a foreign coach gets a job, we accord them a special welcome.
“In due course, we will engage you so that we can have technical meetings and learn from your vast experience. We also want our local coaches to learn from you by impartung knowledge in them so that they too can be able to secure jobs abroad.”
Nankhuni said as an association, they have had a sound working relationship with Bullets.
“They pay membership fees for all their coaches without hustles and I am sure they will pay the $150 [about K262 650] membership fee for you,” he said.
In response, Nyirenda thanked the coaches body for what he described as a hearty welcome.
He said: “I am so humbled to be welcomed in such a manner, it is an honour. People are so respectful here. They love football.
“I am so glad that I have been welcomed by Malawian coaches and although I have qualifications, but no one is a master and I am learning a lot here.
“I am an open person, I don’t like to work in isolation, I am inclusive. I like to share [knowledge] all the time and I want to learn all the time.”
Nyirenda said he will be engaging the coaches body time and again.
Bullets acting chief executive officer Albert Chigoga said as a club, they are willing and ready to pay the affiliation fees for their new coach.
“But we waited for this occasion first before doing the needful. We, therefore, thank the coaches association for making an effort to come here to welcome their colleague,” he said.
Bullets unveiled Nyirenda as their head coach three weeks ago on a two-year deal, replacing Peter Mponda, who was fired in December last year.
Following Mponda’s removal, the People’s Team appointed his former assistant Gilbert Chirwa as an interim coach before parting ways with him.
Nankhuni was accompanied by the association’s vice-treasurer Rabson Mtonga and Southern Region Football Coaches Association general secretary Andrew Magombo.
Nyirenda has won five Zambian national league titles, three of them on the trot with Zanaco and Zesco United. He also coached the Zambia National Football Team.
