Crisis at Wanderers: Gerald Phiri quits as coach

The blue side of town was thrown into fresh turmoil yesterday following the resignation of Mighty Wanderers coach Gerald Phiri.

Phiri’s resignation came barely a day after the Nomads downward plunge took a turn for the worse following their 2-1 shock defeat at the hands of bottom-of-the-table Karonga United on Sunday which relegated them to 12th position in the 15 team league. The Nomads anchored the flagship league for the better part of the first round.

He has become the third coach to throw in the towel at Wanderers within the season after Stuart Mbolembole and Phiri’s former deputy Charles Manda.

Phiri could not be reached for comment yesterday as his phone went unanswered, but club general secretary Mike Butao confirmed Phiri’s resignation decribing it as a “big crisis.”

“We were supposed to have a crisis meeting today [Tuesday], but we were caught off-guard to learn about the coach’s resignation. He handed in the [resignation] letter at the club house last evening [Monday],” said Butao.

Butao said Phiri cited the team’s poor performance as the reason for his resignation.

Asked about the club’s reaction to the development, Butao said: “As I said, we have been taken unawares, but our assumption is that he had made the decision out of pressure and probably frustration in terms of inconsistencies.

“Our position though is that during his stint, there was notable improvement, but he has not been able to resolve inconsistences in terms of results.”

Butao further conceded that this season has not gone as they expected, but were planning to keep Phiri for next season to rebuild the team with the assistance of technical director Yasin Osman, who will now take over the mantle with the help of Kannock Munde.

“No matter in what poor form we are, some games are supposed to be straight forward and a game against Karonga United is supposed to be one of them.

“Sadly, it seems there is no game that we can confidently say we are going to win. I cannot beat about the bush, this is a crisis,” said Butao.

However, Osman has since described Phiri’s resignation as unfortunate, saying the team’s problems are beyond the coach.

“Considering the circumstances in which he found the team, there has been progress and he needs to be commended, but there is little that he could do to turn things around.”

Osman, who was hired to help turn around the fortunes at Lali Lubani Road, said all the Nomads can do now is try as much as possible to avoid relegation.

“At the point we have reached, there is no guarantee that we’ll stay afloat, but we just have to try because if you can’t beat a team such as Karonga United, then you have every reason to fear for the future,” said Osman.

The Nomads legend said they find themselves in such a situation due to lack of quality players.

“In all honesty, the team only has four to five players out of a squad of 27 that are good enough to play in the Super League.

He said as a short-term solution, they will just have to work on the players’ mindsets with the hope of getting something in the remaining eight games as the transfer window is closed.

Asked whether his contribution has brought any significance to the team, Osman who claimed to be a ‘fixer’ when he was engaged in a bid to turn things around, said: “They gave me a piece of dry wood and they expect me to convert it into a growing tree, which is impossible.”

However, the club’s outspoken former general secretary David Kanyenda said the team needs complete overhaul.

“The whole setup needs restructuring, we lack leadership and there is need to take urgent remedial measures,” said Kanyenda.

He added: “Restructuring from the top is a priority and deadwood must go. When you look at the legacy of the team, you appreciate that it has totally lost the plot and this is unacceptable,” said Kanyenda.

But Butao countered: “Listen, when the team is doing well, we share the glory and when it is struggling the same is supposed to be the case. So, all I can say for now is that we are responsible for what happening, but we have not failed.”