Nomads captain, supporters clash

Be Forward Wanderers captain Alfred Manyozo Jnr has fallen out with the club’s main supporters committee which is demanding that he be removed as skipper.

In a statement released on Saturday, Manyozo accuses a section of the supporters’ leadership of plotting his downfall by, among other things, claiming that he was in the forefront of the team’s training boycott ahead of Saturday’s TNM Super League match against Nchalo United.

“I have played for this team since I was 16, but some of the so-called senior supporters are out to damage my reputation by creating false stories about me.

“They are accusing me of being behind the boycott when, in fact, I was in camp with the national team at that particular time. I believe that if Joseph [Kamwendo] was there, they would have said it was him. This is bad,” he said.

The Nomads skipper challenged the supporters to remove him as captain if they so wish.

“They are free to remove me since this is their team. I am only human and I can’t take that,” he said.

The club’s main supporters committee secretary Samuel Mponda said they have long-standing issues with Manyozo bordering on discipline.

“It’s not only about the training boycott issue.  His conduct leaves a lot to be desired and we recently wrote the executive committee to strip him of the captaincy following complaints from the supporters through their zonal committees.

“He does not lead by example at all. Some of our concerns are that he shouted at the club’s chairperson Mr. [Gift] Mkandawire. He has also been involved in confrontational issues with the vice-general secretary Chulu Mkangama and the main supporters committee chairperson Melvin Nkunika.

“There was also a time when he scored a goal and celebrated with a degrading gesture to the supporters and we feel enough is enough. The club needs to take action against him,” said Mponda.

Nomads general secretary Mike Butao declined to comment yesterday.