Big Bullets captain Fischer Kondowe was on Tuesday chased from the team’s morning training session in the wake of an incident that occurred after Sunday’s derby against Mighty Wanderers when he reportedly snatched a jersey at Kamuzu Stadium.
Bullets main supporters committee chairperson Isaac Jomo Osman confirmed having chased the player on the basis that he feels bigger than the club. The dreadlocked midfielder also confirmed the incident, saying he has since started training with the Nomads.
The dreadlocked midfielder drove straight to BAT Ground from the stadium where he arrived at exactly 10.58am for his first training session with the Nomads.
Said Osman: “You might have heard that on Sunday he stormed into the dressing room after the game and snatched a jersey, saying the club owes him money and that he had quit.
“The [acting] team manager [Fundi Akidu] tried to reason with him, but he told him off, now this behaviour does not befit a senior player like him who is supposed to lead by example. And when he came today, I asked him whether he had brought the jersey and he told me that he had left it at home without remorse. Ndiye ndamuthamangitsadi [so, I indeed chased him].”
He added: “What we need now is a disciplined team, whereby no player should feel untouchable or bigger than the club. With the new administration, no player will be accorded special treatment as it was in the past because it breeds divisions and demotivates other players. All players should be treated equally.
“Over the 40 years that the club has been in existence, it has produced big-name players such as Kinnah Phiri, Lawrence Waya, Peter Mponda and Chance Gondwe, but there was never a time they felt bigger than the club.”
He said Fischer’s issue has since been referred to the executive committee for its perusal.
Asked in what capacity he chased the player, Osman said he did it in his capacity as an executive member.
“The main supporters committee chairperson is an automatic executive committee member,” he said.
Fischer claimed that all this is happening because of his allegiance to the club’s previous leadership.
“Their aim is to frustrate me because they believe my loyalty is to the previous executive committee.
“I have indeed been chased and my plans now are to try my luck in the blue side of town, maybe I can get a chance to start a new lease of life, mwina nkupewa zambiri,” he said.
However, he refused to comment on the allegations that he grabbed a jersey, saying: “I would rather not comment on that now.”
But Akidu claimed that Fischer snatched the jersey while shouting that the team owes him money and that he had quit.
“I tried to reason with him, but he was very uncooperative. I think he was frustrated that he was not in the line-up that faced Wanderers, but the reasons were purely disciplinary,” said Akidu
Reacting to the development, Nomads GS David kanyenda said: “The technical panel will assess him and advise us on whether to sign him or not. We will abide with the recommendations of the coach”.
