Swim or sink for Nomads coach
This is it. Mighty Mukuru Wanderers coach Mark Harrison faces a swim-or-sink situation as he leads his charges in a “must win” TNM Super League match against Silver Strikers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre to keep his job.
The Nomads host the Central Bankers as the two giants return to action after being exempted from fixtures for two weeks for contributing four players each to the Malawi National Football Team which was in Durban, South Africa for the just-ended 2023 Cosafa Cup.
The Briton was given a target to win four out of five games and he already drew the first one against age-old rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets, which means he must win the remaining four.
But in an interview yesterday, the 62-year-old coach played down his situation, saying he is not losing sleep over it.
Sounding ice-cool, he said: “Look, to me it doesn’t change anything really because every time we play to win and as I said, we are a good side if we play to the levels that we can.
“Our performance hasn’t been bad, we have been dominating games, we have been creating chances, but we have not been making good use of the opportunities we create.
“For tomorrow’s match, we have to try and get a win and all this jumping around will be made nonsense of.”
On the timing of the fixture, coming two days after the return of their four national team players, the former coach of Gor Mahia in Kenya, Caps United and Highlanders in Zimbabwe, Township Rollers in Botswana and Lomontiville Golden Arrows in South Africa, said: “Not an ideal situation because I haven’t met the players. We will probably have them today, but then it’s a similar situation with Silver.”
The Nomads are most likely to miss the services of their winger Gaddie Chirwa who is nursing a knee injury he sustained while on national duty in South Africa.
But they have enough armoury in the likes of Wisdom Mpinganjira, Misheck Botomani, Felix Zulu, Stanley Sanudi and Miracle Gabeya.
On the other hand, Silver, who stand proudly as the only team yet to taste defeat in this campaign,will be itching for a return to the top.
Silver lie second in the 16-team league with 25 points from 11 matches, a point below leaders Bullets, who, however, have played two games more. On the other hand, the Lali Lubani Road outfit has 19 points also from 11 matches.
The Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored side will bank their hopes on Patrick Macheso, Stein Davie and Chimwemwe Idana.
Silver coach Pieter de Jhong said they are set for the battle.
He said: “We are in good mood and we have lots of confidence going into this match.
“We respect Wanderers, they are a good team, but the pressure is on them as they are six points behind us. So, yes, we are looking forward to the game because a win will take us back to the top.”
