BB coaches given 5 games
Battered and bruised Nyasa Big Bullets have given their Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan-led coaching panel a five-game ultimatum to turn around the team’s fortunes or face the sack.
A well-placed source said this was resolved during yet another crisis meeting held in Blantyre on Tuesday night in a desperate bid to stop the People’s Team’s- downward plunge that has led to a four-game winless streak, culminating in their exit from the Airtel Top 8 showpiece.
Worse still, Bullets are yet to find the back of the net this season in a competitive match.
The meeting was attended by, among others, the club’s trustees, executive and main supporters’ committees and senior players.
“The meeting felt the coaching panel is losing its way and was failing to find a winning formula and it was, therefore, resolved to give them the benefit of doubt by handing them a five-game target starting with this weekend’s [TNM] Super League match against Civil Sporting Club.
“The coaching panel will be assessed after the five matches and a determination on the way forward will be made,” said the source.
He also said when the coach was asked to present his report, he attributed the slump in form to the departure of ChiukepoMsowoya and Jaffalie Chande and, therefore, asked to beef up the team with two more strikers and a midfielder.
“This came as a surprise to many of us because before the season started, it was him who publicly declared that he would not need new players.”
But while confirming that there were a number of targets that were set, the club’s general secretary (GS) Albert Chigoga could not be drawn to deny or confirm the target, insisting that it was privileged information.
“There were demands that were set but there are certain issues that I cannot discuss in public domain due to their sensitivity and privacy. Some information is supposed to be classified.”
Nevertheless, the Bullets GS disclosed that there were some shortfalls that were noted on the part of both the coaches and the players.
“It was felt that there are some decisions which they [coaches] are making that are not working and we asked them to look into that.
“Similarly, it was also noted that there is lack of seriousness on the part of the players because they are not giving out 100 percent effort..
“So, they were told in no uncertain terms that we expect a change in their attitude and discipline,” he said.
Ramadhan could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The People’s Team made one of their worst starts to the season when they were held to a goalless draw by rookies Chitipa United in their opening league game before going down 1-0 to Moyale Barracks. The People’s Team was bundled out of the Airtel Top 8 showcase in the quarter-finals by Silver Strikers after losing the first leg 1-0 before playing out a goalless draw in the return leg.
