Cracks in Nomads technical panel
A leaked audio in which Mighty Mukuru Wanderers FC head coach Alex Ngwira is accusing the recently hired British technical director (TD) Mark Harrison of interference has exposed divisions in the team’s technical panel.
The development comes in the face of the Nomads’ three successive TNM Super League losses to Blue Eagles, Moyale Barracks and Civil Service United.
In the audio, Ngwira is overheard telling an unidentified person believed to be a fan in a conversation that head of technical panel, Limbani Magomero, is to blame for misleading Harrison.
The coach is quoted as having said: “Olo fielding sakuyidziwa , anamutenga [Peter] Cholopi kumuyika pakati… Cholopi tangomusunga ifeyo ali ndi ma blunder. Nde tinati okay ma blunder apangire pakati chifukwa kumbuyo kuli anthu adzimuteteza [He doesn’t know how to field players. He switched Cholopi from midfield where we had put him because of his blunders and we felt that his blunders would be dealt with by the defenders].
“Mzungu uja [Harrison] akumulakwitsa ndi achina Magomero. Zimenezo Muzizidziwa. Munthu wabwera dzana ma players waadziwa bwanji? Amayenera adekhe. Zimene akufuna ieyo anakaziyamba off season osati panopa [It is people like Magomero that are misleading him and that you must know. He has just come, how does he know the players? He was supposed to wait until off season to introduce his style of play].”
In response, the other person is overheard saying: “Ah lerotu masapota onse tinali odabwa kuti game iyi bwanji? Osadziwa kuti wapangitsa ndi mzungu uja, tsopano nde akuyiwononga team tu. [As supporters, we were all surprised with the performance, not knowing that it was because of the white man].”
They were apparently referring to the game against Moyale which the Nomads lost 0-1 last week before Sunday’s game against Civo which they also lost 4-3.
In an interview yesterday, Ngwira confirmed the authenticity of the audio and the conversation, saying it was indeed his voice.
He said: “I can confirm that the voice is mine, but I cannot comment further because I am tied up.
“But being an experienced journalist, you can pick two or three things and make your own conclusions.”
On his part, Harrison said: “I really don’t want to say much because we have a meeting relating to the issue and I am afraid I might end up talking the wrong things.”
In a separate interview, Magomero said being an interested party, he would not be in a position to comment.
“It is a bit sensitive at the moment and the right person to comment would be the club spokesperson Clement Stambuli, who is also chair of chairs,” he said.
On his part, Stambuli said they have instituted hearings on the issue and, to that effect, a special committee has been set up.
“It would, therefore, not be proper for me to comment at this stage,” he said.
The Nomads hired Harrison at the start of October this year on a two-year contract and Stambuli said he would head the technical panel.
Sunday’s loss to Civo means the Nomads cannot finish in the top three in the Super League which are eligible for prizes.
They are fifth with 50 points and have two games before they wind up the league.
