BB coach changes tune on new signings
Nyasa Big Bullets coach Callisto Pasuwa has changed his tune on the club’s new signings barely a day after saying they were disturbing his plans.
The Zimbabwean tactician made the U-turn during an impromptu news conference held in Blantyre on Monday evening also attended by the club’s administration director Albert Chigoga.
On Sunday, Pasuwa was quoted verbatim by Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Radio 2FM saying: “My initial plan was to bring in new players from the reserve side as most of the guys [we have] are ageing, but now the move by the club to sign new players has disturbed my plans.”
But during the news conference, he said: “I was misquoted because I was talking of the balance…that with the coming in of the new players, I would have to make some changes.
“[Otherwise], I am happy with everything that is transpiring and I also thank management and the fans for their support as we prepare for the new season.”
However, the former Zimbabwe national team and Dynamos FC coach said he is concerned with the absence of some players who are with both the senior and Under-23 national teams.
“The new season kick off is getting closer and I would have loved to be with all the players. In fact, there are some [new players] that I have not worked with,” he said.
The coach also said he is happy that all the four players that he had recommended for promotion, notably goalkeeper Elias Missi, defender Charles Petro, midfielder Chimwemwe Idana and striker Hassan Kajoke have graduated to the senior team.
“Then we also have four others Clever Nkungula, Sydney Chabulika, Wilton Kaunda Jnr and White Pikse who will be semi-seniors,” he said.
Taking his turn, Chigoga dismissed suggestions that the coach had been forced to clarify his earlier stance.
“There has always been constant communication in areas of player recruitment and transfers between the coaching panel and management.
“Even in his [Pasuwa] absence, the lines of communication were open and we kept in touch with him to make sure that we were not imposing players on him. Sometimes, he would just describe the kind of players he wanted and we would proceed with the recruitment process based on that,” he said.
