Nomads players, fans to meet Mpinganjira
Representatives of Mighty Wanderers FC players and supporters are planning to meet their former president Thom Mpinganjira within the week to persuade him to rescind his decision to quit.
The business mogul and philanthorapist resigned as the Nomads president and board chair on Sunday, citing bickering within the board and the team’s continued poor performance.
Team captain Alfred Manyozo Jnr and supporters committee chairperson Melvin Nkunika, who is also a board member, confirmed the move in separate interviews yesterday.
Said Manyozo: “We had an emergency meeting as players after getting wind of the president’s resignation and we appointed representatives to go and meet him.
“As players, we agree that our performance of late, especially against [Nyasa Big] Bullets on Saturday [in the semi-finals of the Airtel Top 8, was embarrassing and way below expectations.
“And as a big team, we should be ashamed. But the president is a father figure to us and we want him to find a place in his heart to forgive us.
“We let him and the entire Wanderers family down, but we him to hear us out and see how we can move forward.”
On the bickering within the board, the Nomads skipper said while they would not want to interfere in the matters of the board, “but as players, we feel if there are people who are undermining him, then they should just quit”.
Said Manyozo: “The president is not only financing the club, but has also put in place structures that will help transform this team and if there are others who want to frustrate him, then we will not just sit and watch.”
On his part, Nkunika said his committee was briefed by the players on their intention to meet Mpinganjira.
He said: “Actually, we are on the same page because that is also what we had been planning.
“Initially, I wanted to go there alone, but my colleagues suggested that we should approach him as a team and present our concerns.
“We are praying that he will hear our plea, otherwise I can foresee a crisis because apart from pumping in millions, he came up with a number of plans on how to take the team forward.”
Mpinganjira was appointed the club’s president on July 22 after accepting a request from the interim executive committee, commercialisation and supporters’ committees.
He was named board chair a few days later to lead a 24-member team.
The business magnate and founder of FDH group has pumped in about K180 million since January, including the team’s K6.3 million monthly wage bill, players bonuses and training allowances.
