Mighty Wanderers president Thomson Mpinganjira says he is excited that his investment into the club is now reaping the rewards.
The business mogul and philanthropist, who has pumped in a fortune at Lali Lubani Road in a bid to bring back the glory days, said this on Saturday, hours after the Nomads swept aside Moyale Barracks 6-0 to end their eight-year title drought.
This was after their second-placed arch-rivals FCB Nyasa Big Bullets faltered after being held to a barren draw by Mighty Tigers, seven kilometres away at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township the same afternoon, virtually ending their title aspirations.
With a tone that had touch of excitement and joy, Mpinganjira, who is also the club’s main sponsor, said: “I am very happy, so is every Nomad, it shows money has been well spent.
“It shows we have made good progress and the mission to make Mighty mighty again, has been successfully completed.
“It has been long time coming and to do it in such a grand style is fulfilling.” But he also had a word of caution: “We can’t afford to sit on our laurels. Continuity is always key.
“The challenge now is to retain the title next season and beyond. That’s what is on everyone’s mind at the club.”
Mpinganjira, who doubles as the club’s board chairperson, also said he feels vindicated after facing fierce resistance from within the Nomads family to maintain Bob Mpinganjira as head coach.
He said: “I had to fight people over Bob as head coach. I feel vindicated now.”
On his part, Bob, who was the assistant coach to the late Yasin Osman when the Nomads last won the title in 2017, said he was happy to have repaid Mpinganjira for his faith and confidence.
He said: “I feel relieved to have met the league target, especially for the president, the fans and the entire Nomads family. This is a timely Christmas present to them.
“It was tough, but I think we deserved it going by the team’s results and performance, especially the level of consistency.”
The club’s assistant vice-captain Felix Zulu also said they were relieved to end the eight-year title drought.
He said: “I think in all fairness, we deserved it. We fought all the way with the backing of the president, the board, management and the fans, and we just had to reward them at all cost.
“So, yes, it’s celebration time now as we look to wind up the season on a good note.”
There were ecstatic scenes after the final whistle as the Nomads fans turned the pitch into a theatre of celebrations, joining their heroes in a jive and then seeing them off with familiar sounds of ‘Ng’ona’ and ‘Pangolin’.
The Nomads top the table with 68 points, five ahead of Bullets with a game to go apiece while dethroned champions Silver Strikers, who are third, have 60 points with two games to wrap up the season.
