Blantyre Utd fire Gadaga, take Heston on board
Blantyre United have sacked coach Mario Gadaga and replaced him with Big Bullets’ veteran striker Heston Munthali, effectively ending the ex-MDC United and Escom United scorer-in-chief’s windy, but successful career.
United technical director Lawson Nakoma yesterday confirmed that they were not signing Munthali, two-time Super League Golden Boot awardee, as a player.
If they did, United would have negotiated with Bullets, whose general secretary Harold Fote recently hinted that the player would be loaned. The striker has no coaching papers, but will be enrolled for coaching courses, he hinted.
Munthali will work under veteran trainer Alex Masanjala who heads a backroom team of former players comprising Maupo Msowoya and Simeon Kapuza, Nakoma said, were also being groomed as coaches.
“There were a lot of coaches that called asking for the job, but we want to stick to our tradition of producing our own coaches as we did with Leo Mpulula and Elia Kananji [now at Bullets],” explained Nakoma.
“We want Heston, Maupo and Simeon to, after three years, be the next generation of our coaches. It is for this reason that we brought in Mr. Masanjala as he has lots of knowledge which he is sharing with the young coaches.”
Munthali, who also played for clubs in Mauritius and Denmark, was at his elusive best when contacted yesterday: “I know what you want to ask me, but I am in a minibus and I will come back to you.”
As for Gadaga, Nakoma said he did not meet the target of winning at least three of five-targeted league games. United, who are on position 12, have two points in five games. Gadaga yesterday insisted he was not given enough time to prove himself.
