Masters Security to chop 16 players

Newly-promoted Super League side Masters Security will lay off 16 players as part of its rebuilding exercise, coach Benjamin Kumwenda has confirmed.

The development means that a few weeks before the season kicks off, the reigning Central Region Football League (CRFL) champions will be left with 11 players.

Said Kumwenda: “We have 27 players but, as you might understand, Super League is tough so we will let some go so that we create room for better players we plan to recruit.”

Though the coach did not disclose the status of those he will retain, the Chipiku CRFL  Player of the Season awardee Francis Nolito is likely to remain.

The coach has, in the meantime, expressed optimism about finding quality players to build a squad capable of challenging for the title.

He said from Tuesday (today), the club will hold trials which every interested player including those from the CRFL can participate in.

“Apart from the trials, Tuesday will also mark the start of our training and that’s when we will confirm who remains and who goes. Every player, especially from teams that finished in top five of the CRFL, is also invited to the trials,” said Kumwenda.

Strangely, the coach has said players that will be chopped are free to undergo the trials: “If they impress then they will be reconsidered.”

Masters Security has failed to sign some of their top targets this far after relegated Karonga United defender Hygiene Mwandepeka was reportedly snatched by Silver Strikers while midfielder Joseph Kamwendo’s loan deal from Be Forward Wanderers is in limbo as the Nomads are refusing to release him.

Kumwenda said he is not disappointed with the setbacks, arguing that there is still time to bring in top players.

Meanwhile, Masters goalkeeper Dave Taulo said they have not been informed about plans to dismiss some of the players.

“We know nothing possibly because we haven’t started training yet.  But anyway we will hear more once we have started training,” he said.