Wanderers coach justifies off-loading ‘surplus to requirement’
Mighty Wanderers coach Gerald Phiri has come out in the open to justify his decision to off-load six senior players to the youth side just a week before the second round of the TNM Super League kicks off.
Phiri said he recommended for the chopping block of Diverson Chilemba, Felix Kamwendo, Edward Chilalika, Diverious Mwale, Tawonga Chingati, William Abdulla, Wongani Zulu because he wanted to work with the players who would be instrumental in the team’s fight to avoid relegation.
He said some of the players were not committed which threatened his job as the Nomads had been struggling in the first round.
“I could not just keep players who could not help me,” Phiri said.
“It’s better for me to fail with the players whom I feel have what it takes to play under my tutelage. Some of the player had nothing to offer to the club hence the decision to off-load them to the youth side.”
But Phiri, who has managed to turn around the fortunes of the team after taking over from beleaguered former coach Stuart Mbolembole, said Timothy Chitedze was not on the list of off-loaded players.
“I would like to make this clear that Timothy Chitedze was not off-loaded. I only cautioned him to improve on his behaviour because he is not bigger than the club,” he said.
In a related development Wanderers General Secretary Mike Butao said the decision would help the transfer-listed players to gain fitness and pick up their form.
“I think these players lost their form because of lack of game time. We are optimistic that they would regain their fitness levels at their new clubs because they will have more game time.”
He said they players could return to the Lali Lubani Road should the club need their services.
Meanwhile, Tigers roped in Chilemba, Chingati, Kamwendo and Chilalika to strengthen the team.
Chilemba was featured in Tigers victory over Kamuzu Barracks in the Standard Bank Knockout Competition on Sunday.
Tigers beat Kamuzu Barracks 1-0 to reach the semi-finals and they would face Mafco FC who booted out Airborne Rangers.
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