Winds of change

Eleven of the 16 TNM Super League clubs will have new coaches when the 2024 season kicks off on April 7.

The rest, quadruple winners FCB Nyasa Bullets, Kamuzu Barracks (KB), Karonga United, Ekwendeni Hammers and Civil Service have maintained their coaches from last season.

While thepromoted sides, Baka City, Fomo FC and Creck Sporting Club, have rung changes because their coaches do not have required badges, the other eight have roped in new coaches in a bid to turnaround their fortunes and end the People’s Team’s dominance.

National Football Coaches Association chairperson Aubrey Nankhuni and football analyst Charles Nyirenda have said the changes signify desperation from other teams  after the People’s Team scaled new dizzy heights following their clean sweep of silverware.

Said Nankhuni: “It speaks volumes about other teams’ eagerness to end Bullets’ dominance. They [Bullets] set the bar high.

“Having said that, as an association we are happy  that teams are now offering coaches better deals than before.

“However, we have reservations on the durations and targets because most teams are offering these new coaches one-year deals with a target to win the league and a cup or two.

“We feel that is unrealistic because the first year is for the coach to lay foundations and if anything, results should be expected from the second year or season.”

He also appealed to the promoted teams to maintain coaches that led them to the Super League as assistant coaches. 

On his part, Nyirenda said: “Change can be positive or negative. There are scenarios where change was forced on teams and we have cases where the club owners decided to dump what they had and move on.”

“For the new teams, club licensing requirements left them with no choice, but to seek coaches with necessary qualifications/proficiency.

“As for those who released coaches, it’s a sort of gamble in the hope that a different steward may steer the team in a better and progressive direction. It could work well for them or not.”

 He said the situation of teams such as Chitipa United whose coaches left for greener pastures, is a question of imperative.

Said Nyirenda: “They have no choice, but to replace the one who has left. It’ll be hard to replicate the performance of last season because there is no guarantee that the new coach will gel with the players and understand the team like the one who moved on did.

“In a nutshell, we have to wait and see who will gain from the changes and who could end up suffering. You never know what tomorrow may bring.”

Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga, in an interview yesterday, said they are not losing sleep over other teams’ coaching panel reshuffles.

He said: “It is good for teams to strengthen their technical panels with new coaches they think will add value and bring a change in fortunes.

“Nonetheless, I doubt if whatever they are doing is aimed at stopping  Bullets because if that is the case, then they are in for another disappointing season.”

Karonga-based Baka City have hired former Civil Service coach Oscar Kaunda, Fomo have roped in ex-Dedza Dynamos mentor Gilbert Chirwa while Creck have taken on board ex-Chitipa United gaffer McDonald Mtetemera, who led the team to a decent fop-four finish on their return to the Super League. 

On the other hand, Chitipa and Mafco FC are yet to replace Mtetemera and Pritchard Mwansa, who led the Salima-based soldiers to the final of the Zamadolo Airtel Top 8 and Pachema FDH Bank Cup which they both lost to Bullets.

Silver Strikers, who were runners-up to Bullets in the league and Ibongetse Castel Cup, have roped in former South Africa-based second-tier league side Black Leopards coach Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda; Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, who finished third in the league, have hired Burundian coach Nsazurwimo Ramadhan, currently based in Tanzania.

Mwansa has returned to Moyale Barracks, Mighty Tigers have hired Leo Mpululula, Dedza Dynamos have appointed Andrew Bunya, formerly of relegated Extreme FC, Bangwe All Starshave engaged Christopher Nyambose, formerly of Tigers.

Those that have been maintained are Bullets’ Kallisto Pasuwa, KB’s Alick Chirwa, Trevor Kajawa of Karonga United, Elias Chirambo of Ekwendeni Hammers and Civo’s Abbas Makawa.

Meanwhile, Chitipa and Mafco FC have said they will speed up the process of hiring coaches.

Chitipa general secretary Duma Ngoma said: “We do not have much time , so we’ll not advertise the position, rather we have opted for a head-hunting process.

“The team will start preparations next week, we have therefore intensified the hunt for Mtetemera’s replacement.”

On the other hand, Mafco general secretary Cydrick Chisale said they intend to name a new coach to replace Mwansa next week.