Nomads chair resigns

The turmoil that has rocked Mighty  Be Forward Wanderers camp worsened on Monday following the resignation of club chairperson Simon Sikwese.

His resignation came barely a day after the Nomads’ main supporters committee suspended the executive committee except him.

Ironically, club general secretary Victor Maunde and treasurer Robert Mbedza also threw in the towel on Friday amid divisions in the team’s leadership.

Confirming his resignation yesterday, Sikwese said: “I have my personal integrity to protect and I believe things are getting out of hand. I arrived at the decision after hearing that the supporters committee had suspended the entire executive committee.

“It was only after I contacted the supporters committee chairperson [Melvin Nkunika] that he changed his tune to say I was an exception.

“They cannot make such decisions without consulting. It means as a club we have lost direction.”

But Nkunika described the chairperson’s resignation as unfortunate.

He said: “I think it was an emotional decision. It is true that we have suspended the executive committee, but excluding the chairperson whom we have agreed to work with.

“He probably might have been misinformed and reacted emotionally.

“We are going to engage him so that he understands the situation. He is our father and he cannot abandon us just like that.”

Over a week ago, the team’s commercialisation task force also quit after some quarters within the team’s set-up questioned its mandate and some of its recommendations.

Since the termination of the sponsorship contract with Japanese firm Be Forward Limited, things have not been rosy at Lali Lubani Road mainly due to financial constraints, a development that has also affected the club’s performance.

Football analyst George Kaudza Masina has since described the situation at Wanderers as a crisis, saying: “What is happening at Lali Lubani is a total disaster and if not handled properly, this will mark the end of Wanderers.

“The suspension of the executive by the supporters committee is very unfortunate. Supporters,  who are not even registered, cannot wield such powers. They should be able to understand their role and leave the running of the club to the elected executive.”

He said the biggest challenge at the club remains ownership and the way forward is to register it as a company.

“As  Wanderers family, a roundtable discussion will be the way to go,” Kaudza Masina said.