BB fire coach, TD
Domestic football powerhouse Nyasa Big Bullets yesterday fired coach Franco Ndawa and technical director Billy Tewesa, barely two days after the team’s exit from the Carlsberg Cup.
The club’s interim general secretary Kelvin Moyo confirmed the development, saying the decision was made at an executive committee meeting held on Sunday in Blantyre which was attended by 11 executive committee members, including acting chairperson Noel Lipipa.
He said the meeting agreed that assistant coach Lloyd Nkhwazi, who holds the required CAF B licence, should take over as head coach and will be assisted by Mabvuto Lungu.
“The contract of the coach [Ndawa] was performance-based and most of the executive committee members felt in the recent past games, he was not performing to expectations.
“And during the meeting, it was suggested that a vote be conducted to determine his future and all the 11 members voted against him, which in other words, was a complete vote of no confidence,” said Moyo in an interview yesterday.
But Ndawa yesterday said he was not aware of his firing.
“I am here at home [in Zomba] resting and I have not been informed anything to that effect and tomorrow I will report for work in Blantyre,” said Ndawa, who guided the People’s Team to Presidential Cup glory earlier in the season.
And confirming Tewesa’s axing, the Bullets interim GS said it was more to do with restructuring.
“After a critical review, it was felt that he [Tewesa] does not have the qualifications for the post and after a further review, it was agreed that we do not need a TD at this point.
“Further to that, there were rifts within the technical panel and the TD could not stamp his authority to restore sanity as the man in charge,” he said.
Moyo said Tewesa’s future, just like that of Ndawa, had to be determined through votes and only two out of the 11 members, wanted him to stay.
On his part, Tewesa confirmed having been verbally communicated to about the development.
“I have not been told the reasons for my firing, neither have I received a letter. Nevertheless, I have been informed verbally.
“I am happy that they have decided to kick me out, I am not bitter at all. I will now be an ordinary supporter and that takes some pressure off me,” said Tewesa.
He added: “But I will miss the players and the fans, that is for sure.”
During his two-and-a-half seasons’ stint as TD, Bullets won the TNM Super League title twice, the Carlsberg Cup and the Presidential Cup.
However, team manager Rahim Ishmael survived the chop after eight of the 11 executive committee members voted that he stays put.
