National Sports

Nomads postpone jubilee celebrations

Mighty Wanderers have postponed their Golden Jubilee celebrations that were scheduled for April 28 in the wake of former State president Bingu wa Mutharika’s mourning period.

The Nomads general secretary David Kanyenda confirmed the development on Sunday saying the club’s executive committee will meet after the mourning period to come up with a new date.

“The tentative date for the Golden Jubilee celebrations was April 28, but we felt it would be disrespectful to proceed with the celebratory function when the country is in a state of mourning.

“We are equally mourning the death of the former State president with the rest of the nation,” Kanyenda said.

However, the Nomads GS said preparatory meetings for the event are still going ahead.

“Just last Wednesday, we had another meeting at our club house in relation to the strategic plan and 50th anniversary that was attended by some of our legends and ex-officials such as Jack ‘Africa’ Chamangwana, Dean Pinto and Symon Sikwese,” Kanyenda said.

He also said as soon as the mourning period is over, the Nomads shall embark on a series of celebratory commemoration activities like social responsibilities, sale of T-shirts and caps that will be printed ‘50 years’ culminating in the actual Golden Jubilee celebrations date.

The Nomads spokesperson also said the team’s jerseys for the forthcoming season will have ‘50 years’ printed in front to mark the Golden Jubilee.

“We will also liaise with Sulom that on the actual day of the celebrations, they should not be any games in Blantyre so that the soccer fraternity will be able to celebrate with us.

“This will be a landmark for the nation because no existing club is older than us,” Kanyenda said.

He also said the Nomads was the first team to export a player to a top European league when Kennedy Malunga signed for top Belgian club Cicle Brugge in the 1980s.

Mighty Wanderers was formed in 1962 and over the years it has produced big name players that include Chamangwana, Pinto, the Malunga brothers—William, the late Holman and Kennedy, their nephew Leonard, Ishmail Khamisa, Alaudin and Yasin Osman, Jimmy Mkwanda, Boniface Maganga, [late] Robert Banda, Montfort Pemba, George Manda, Barnett Gondwe, Kannock Munde, Lawrence Perreira-Phiri, Jimmy Mphamba, [late] Chiuke Mhango, Donnex Gondwe, [late] Ricky ‘Mabomba’ Phuka, [late] Fanello Munthali, [late] Alfred Manyozo Snr,  [late] Robert Khakhi Phiri, [late] Euginigho Fesani, Walter Nyamilandu, Bob and Albert Mpinganjira

Others are McDonald Yobe, Chimwemwe Gadi, Hendrix Banda, Hannock Ng’oma, Sherry Msuku, Thom Milanzi, Meke Mwase, Mike Mwesi, [late] Frank Mtawali, Ojukwu Malunga, Gift Zakazaka, Joseph Kamwendo and James Sangala.

Some of the high-profile names that managed the club include former president Bakili Muluzi, Brown Mpinganjira, [late] Dumbo Lemani, Isaac Nyakamera, John Magombo, [late] Harold Coombes, Humphrey Mvula, Friday Jumbe, Sydney Chikoti, Clement Stambuli, Tony Mita, [late] Wilfred Chiponde, Dennis Kambalame, Timothy Chirwa, Jack Kamwendo, Nyamilandu, James Chuma and Patrick Chikowi.

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