Coaches in a tight corner

P

ressure is mounting for highest paid TNM Super League coaches as their employers are keen to see positive signs of ‘return on investment’ with just eight weeks into the season.

FCB Nyasa Bullets, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, Silver Strikers and Creck Sporting Club boast of being clubs with best paid coaches in the elite local league.

Bullets’ Zimbabwean mentor Kallisto Pasuwa is the highest paid on a $6 050 (about K10.5 million) package per month while Mighty Mukuru Wanderers gaffer Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan of Burundi, who resigned last week, was second on a $3 500 (about K6.3 million) in his one-year deal.

Following Ramadhan’s departure, Silver’s Peter Mponda is on a K5 million per month and the highest among the locals while Creck Sporting Club coach McDonald Mtetemera is third on K1.4 million monthly.

With just eight weeks into the season, Mponda’s Silver are unbeaten and lead the log table with 22 points unbeaten in eight matches.

But it was not rosy for Ramadhan, who resigned due to purported pressure from supporters after the Nomads, who have 12 points, suffered two consecutive 2-0 losses to Silver and Mzuzu City Hammers.

Mtetemera also faces pressure after his club on Wednesday warned him that he risks the chop if he fails to collect at least seven points form a possible nine in the next three matches.

In a letter dated May 29 2024, signed by general secretary Aaron Abacus Kandiwo Mtaya, the club says it expects more from the technical panel after investing about K100 million.

The letter reads in part: “It has been noted that despite the support and resources provided, the results have not been satisfactory of late. Following a thorough assessment, it has been decided that a disciplinary action in form of a written letter be issued to you, the coaching staff.

“Please take this warning seriously and make the necessary adjustments to ensure that Creck Sporting Club achieves the desired results as an ambitious club that does not only aim at beating relegation in the elite league, but also fighting for honours in the country and beyond our borders.”

The club’s board chairperson Muhammad Seleman in an interview yesterday justified the warning letter, saying it was a normal procedure.

He said: “It is normal for any club to take any form of disciplinary action against its members. A written warning is one of the forms of a disciplinary action.”

Mtetemera, who last season led lowly funded Chitipa United to a top four finish,  has welcomed the challenge saying it has jerked him up and that he will aim for nine points.

“I have welcomed the challenge 100 percent. I don’t know their motive, but I will just do my job,” he said.

The reaction follows the team’s recent results which have seen them collect 11 points from eight matches.

They tie at 11 points with Moyale Barracks on position six, PremierBet Dedza Dynamos in seventh, Civil Service United are eighth and Mighty Wakawaka Tigers lie ninth on goal difference.

Despite winning all silveware last season, pressure is piling for Pasuwa, who has endured the worst start in five years as the defending champions drew against Moyale Barracks on Monday to collect just 14 points from a possible 24 in eight matches.

The last time they had such a turbulent first eight weeks was in 2019 when they collected 11 points in Pasuwa’s first full season after taking over from Eliah Kananji midway the 2018 season.

National Football Coaches Associations  chairperson Aubrey Nankhuni in an interview said they anticipated the development way before the season kicked off.

However, he said there are cases where some clubs are to blame after failing to fulfil contractual agreements.

“In other cases the coaches were forced to leave because of the poor welfare,” he said.

Ramadhan’s resignation  coincided with that of Chitipa United head coach McNebert Kadzuwa and his assistant Elvis Kafoteka following their team’s poor performance, taking the number of coaches that have left their clubs this year to six.

Before the duo, Oscar Kaunda dumped Baka FC just a week into the new season, Trevor Kajawa quit his job at Karonga United coach while Christopher Nyambose  parted ways with Bangwe All Stars.

According to Kajawa, he was made to work for Karonga United without a contract for four months.

But Karonga United general secretary Ramsey Simwaka justified the delay, saying “There are procedures that we follow. We were still monitoring the coach before offering him a contract”.

Nyambose, on the other hand, terminated his seven-month contract with the Bangwe-based side just after three games in the new season, citing personal reasons, including health grounds.