Nomads miss the CAF boat
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers president and board chairperson Thomson Mpinganjira says the team has failed to to prove that it can compete in a CAF inter-club tournament this year.
Early last month, the business mogul and philanthropist said the team’s participation in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confedration Cup would depend on the team’s performance between the start of the season and the tournament’s registration period.
With the registration process now underway, Mpinganjira said in an interview yesterday that the Nomads are far from being ready for the continental stage.
He said: “I think that the writing is on the wall. Based on performance and results, we are not ready to compete with the elite. If we are struggling on the local level, then we would be banking on a miracle to perform at that level.
“So, it won’t happen, definitely not this year. There is a lot that needs to be done to stabilise the team, the present level is very dissatisfying.”
Mpinganjira’s position comes after the Nomads suffered two consecutive defeats to Silver Strikers and Mzuzu City Hammers in the TNM Super League by 2-0 margins, which led to the resignation of head coach Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan.
In an interview yesterday, the Nomads’ technical director Yasin Osman said Mpinganjira could not have put it any better.
He said: “I totally agree with the president. We are far from being ready to participate in a CAF tournament. The team needs to improve on performance, which will trickle to good results.
“We seem to have lost a sense of direction and for us to join such an elite tournament wouldn’t be a good idea, it would be a waste of resources.”
The Nomads’ decision means that only FCB Nyasa Bullets are once again tipped to take part in a CAF tournament, having confirmed their participation in the CAF Champions League by virtue of being TNM Super League champions.
Silver Strikers, who finished as runners-up in both the Super League and Castel Challenge Cup last season, were the first option for the Confederation Cup followed by the Nomads, who finished third in the league.
But the Bankers ruled themselves out of the tournament last year, saying having failed to win any silverware last season, they do not deserve to take part in the tournament.
Football Association of Malawi club licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale said in an interview yesterday they will reach out to other clubs to see if there could be interest to take up the remaining slot.
Bullets are the only local team that have been taking part in CAF tournaments in the last five years, getting past the first hurdle only once.
