Escom United coach foresees tough season

Two time TNM Super league champions and last season runners up Escom United have admitted that they will have a tough season as they rebuild a new side.

Coach Charles Manda said in interview on Wednesday that it will be tough for the team to strongly compete for any of the four trophies on offer this season.

The team is struggling after it let go of 12 senior players in the pre-season as a cost-cutting measure and has recruited a number of youngsters without experience, who are struggling to cope up.

For the first time in seven years the Electricians are anchoring the log table without a win in four games and have managed just two draws.

This is contrary to last season’s explosive start when they won their first five league games.

“It is going to be tough for us this season. It is one of worst starts of the season and it is clear that the gamble to lay off the players has hit us hard.

“But the youngsters will pick up and we will build a good side for the future but for this season it will be hard for us,” said Manda.

Chairperson Fanuel Nkhono said there was no other way they would have retained the players due to the club’s financial status.

“We don’t have sponsors and the senior players wage bill was just too huge for us to afford so we had to let them go. But we will build a good team. People should know that we developed players like Ndaziona Chatsalira, Chimango Kayira, Chipiliro Jose and Charles Swini from scratch so will build another generation of good players,” said Nkhono.