Silver suspend coaches, 3 players

Push has come to shove at Silver Strikers who have suspended the entire Franco Ndawa-led coaching panel following a string of poor results.

That is not all. The Bankers have also suspended three players, including captain Dave Moya. The others are goalkeeper Amadou Ali and striker Rodrick Gonani.

Silver’s chairperson Dr. McDonald Mafuta-Mwale on Monday said the suspensions are for two weeks.

Meanwhile, Ndawa has been replaced by the club’s former coach Stain ‘Theba’ Chirwa while the club’s former defender and assistant coach Francis Songo is caretaker team manager.

“We have suspended Ndawa, his two deputies Hellings [Mwakasungula] and Itaye Nundwe as well as team manager S’busiso Padambo pending further investigations on technical and disciplinary issues.

“We have also referred the issue to our legal committee for their advice,” said Mafuta-Mwale.

He also said the interim panel will be in charge until the end of the first round.

Chirwa’s first task will be this weekend’s Carlsberg Cup quarter-final qualifying match against Big Bullets.

Mafuta-Mwale also confirmed that they are pondering to hire Young Chimodzi and Lovemore Fazili.

“But this will be subject to the outcome of discussions that are currently under way since both are employed elsewhere,” he said.

However, while confirming having been approached by Silver, Chimodzi was quick to point out that he could not take up the offer as his contract with government bars him from being engaged by another party on permanent basis.

“It is true that I was approached by some Silver Strikers officials who wanted to find out if I could be interested to accept an offer to coach the team.

“However, I told them that it would be difficult at the moment considering that I am contracted to government,” said Chimodzi who works as regional football development officer for the Centre.

Asked if he could not consider accepting the offer on part-time basis, Chimodzi said: “That could have been another option, but I also help Blue Eagles as technical adviser, so there could have been a conflict of interest.”

However, earlier on, Mafuta-Mwale said there was nothing convincing from Ndawa and his support staff when they were summoned for a meeting on Sundayafternoon to warrant their continuation.

Ndawa said he could not comment unless he got official communication from the club regarding his fate.

“As of now, I have not heard anything. So, it will be difficult to comment,” said Ndawa.

The situation turned from bad to worse in the Bankers camp at the weekend when they lost 0-1 to Blue Eagles.