The 2024 topflight league champions, Silver Strikers have said one of the factors that led to coach Peter ‘Shoes’ Mgangira’s firing was the Bankers’ away record that saw them win two out of eight matches.
On Tuesday night, the Lilongwe-based giants announced through a press statement that they had mutually agreed to part ways with their head coach with immediate effect on performance grounds.
Part of the statement from Silver reads: “The decision was reached amicably and by mutual agreement between the club and Mt Mgangira. The club places on record its appreciation for his professionalism and service during the time with Silver Strikers FC.
Out of 17 matches so far this season, including two Airtel Top 8 fixtures, Mgangira won nine, lost three and drew five.
But the club’s chief executive officer Patrick Chimimba said it was the away record that was worrying.
“Out of eight away matches, we won only two. So, it was the pattern of the away results that was a concern,” he said.
The Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored outfit’s biggest defeats were 3-0 to Karonga United in the Airtel Top 8 that sent them packing 3-2 on aggrefate and last weekend’s 5-0 humiliation at the hands of FCB Nyasa Bullets in the FDH Bank Premiership in Blantyre, which was one of their worst defeats.
In the FDH Bank Premiership alone, Mgangira only lost twice in 15 matches, winning eight and drawing five.
In an interview yesterday, the Silver legend accepted his fate, saying: “It has happened and I have accepted. I have been in such situations before. It is not the first time and I am not the first one. It’s not the last time and I am not going to be the last one.
“When I was appointed as coach, I knew that a day like this would come. It’s the nature of the job whereby if people feel that the team is not doing well, the next thing is you get fired.
“I am not going to blame anyone, everything has its own time. It doesn’t hurt when you were giving out your best but things didn’t work. You have to be ready for such situations.”
Mgangira thanked the club’s board, management supporters, players and his backroom staff for their support and trust.
“I appreciate the support from the fans, especially in Mchesi [Township in Lilongwe], I will always remember and cherish them. To the players, I thank them for being there for me and to the technical staff, we worked as a team, we spoke the same language and pulled in the same direction,” he said.
He, however, said there were lessons learnt.
Said the former Flames and Silver midfield maestro: “I have learnt one or two things that when signing a deal and the other party is coming up with demands, you also need to come up with demands from them in terms of getting on board quality players.
“Otherwise, let me thank the club for giving me an opportunity to be the head coach. It was my first time to work as a head coach and I will always appreciate that.”
Last season, Mgangira, who took over from current Masters FC coach Peter Mponda, led the Bankers to FDH Bank Cup glory.
Mgangira’s contract was terminated hours after another FDH Bank Premiership side Ekhaya FC parted ways with head coach Enos Chatama, fired barely a week after leading The Cowboys to their first major trophy, the Airtel Top 8.
In a statement, Ekhaya said: “The decision follows a comprehensive review by the club’s leadership and has been in alignment with the club’s strategic objectives for the current season and beyond.”
Football analyst Parry Chinyama said in an interview yesterday that the firings are based on performance as per the standards the teams set and their expectations.
He said: “For Chatama, you will notice that after coming back from ‘forced holiday’ he found the team on fifth position and they are now 11th. He managed the team in seven games and out of 21 points, he only amassed four.
“In the Airtel Top 8, he scrapped through to the final through draws and the performance of team was not that good.”
“As for Mgangira, it borders around performance. He failed in Airtel Top 8, worse of all losing to Karonga United after leading 2-0 on the first leg, but the final straw that broke the camel’s back was the heavy defeat at the hands of Bullets.”
Meanwhile, Silver have appointed an interim technical panel with Patricio Kulemeka as ihesad coach while Mapopa Musikwa and Andrew Chikhosi are first and second assistant coaches, respectively. Phillip Nyasulu is the goalkeeper trainer while Emmanuel Chipatala is team manager.
