CIVO warn coach
Civo United leadership has expressed disappointment at the team’s performance and has warned coach Milias Pofera-Jegwe to overturn the tide of poor results or risk being sacked.
The Lilongwe-based outfit has been inconsistent three months into the new season and the situation worsened two weeks ago when they were hammered 0-4 by relegation-threatened Red Lions. On Sunday they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Nyasa Big Bullets.
Civo, with 15 points, are currently eleventh on the Super League table, and two places above relegation.
In an interview on Monday, general secretary (GS) Thomas Makiwa said the executive committee’s patience with Pofera-Jegwe, the former Dedza Young Soccer Saints mentor, is wearing thin.
“We are utterly disappointed with the team’s performance. The coach needs to step up and start winning consistently otherwise, if we go on at the current pace, we may decide to sack him,” he said.
Makiwa disclosed that the executive committee has been summoning the coach for a diagnosis and solution to the poor performance, “but it is surprising that what we are working on is not improving.”
“It was felt that one of the reasons could be that the players are demotivated because we owe them signing-on fees arrears. We have partly paid them, but they are still performing poorly. I think the coach and the players need to do a reflection,” he said.
Makiwa said Pofera-Jegwe’s contract “specified that the team should do better than we did last season. But from the look of things, it is getting worse despite beefing up the squad.”
Responding to the warning, Pofera-Jegwe asked for patience from the executive committee, arguing that he has been in the position for three months only.
“Most of the Super League teams have coaches that have been there for sometime that is why they are doing well. Look at league leaders Blue Eagles coach [Deklerk Msakakuona]; he has been there for three years.
“I am totally new at Civo and I am laying the foundation. I believe that I will bring glory to this club. What I need is enough time. To be honest, I am also frustrated with the results,” he said.
On his part, Civo captain Nelson Kangunje said they are just going through a bad patch.
“As players we are committed towards the cause and it is our belief that we can turn things around with the same coach, but if the executive thinks otherwise, then that is beyond us.”
