Nomads return to training

Peace and calm has returned to Lali Lubani Road where Be Forward Wanderers players have resumed training after staging a boycott last week over unpaid dues.

The Nomads, who sit pretty at the summit of the TNM Super League table with 45 points from 21 matches, resumed training on Monday.

The players threatened not to resume training until they were paid bonuses for nine matches, but in an interview yesterday captain Alfred Manyozo Jnr said they resolved to resume training for the sake of the club.

“Our officials called us to explain reasons behind their failure to pay the outstanding dues last week as promised.

“So, we somehow understood their explanation and following the meeting that we also had as players, we thought it wise to prioritise the interests of the club because had we continued with the boycott, it would have affected our league title chase campaign,” he said.

The Nomads’ skipper said they are hoping that their executive will sort out the issue “as soon as possible”.

Wanderers chairperson Gift Mkandawire said they are trying their best to normalise the situation.

“But we commend the players for their understanding, they have displayed maturity,” he said.

The club promised to pay the players after collecting their share of gate collections from the latest episode of the Blantyre derby against Nyasa Big Bullets.

But the Nomads did not live to their word and, instead, used their K8.1 million share to pay creditors.

Asked why they did not prioritise the players, Mkandawire said: “People that were entrusted with the task did not handle it properly.”

Manyozo last week urged the team’s supporters to be holding the executive accountable.

Apart from Wanderers, other teams such as Kasungu-based TN Stars and Masters Security have also been battling a cash squeeze leading to failure to honour some league fixtures.