Tigers coach accuse players of sabotage

Azam Tigers outspoken coach Leo Mpulula has hit out at his charges, accusing them of sabotage.

Speaking after his team’s 1-0 loss to Mafco in Dwangwa on Saturday, Mpulula accused his players of trying to pull him down by not giving out their best on the pitch.

“The so-called senior players have let me down, there was no commitment at all. This has been a painful season in my coaching career, but I have learnt a lot on what it means in taking a team in the middle of the season,” Mpulula said.

He added that he would build a new team for the forthcoming season starting with the Presidential Cup.

“It is unfortunate that the players I thought could be in the forefront of taking the team to a higher level are the ones pulling me down.

“But it has been a learning process for me. I have developed a thick skin that will help me forge ahead in breathing new life into the team,” he said.

But he could not be drawn to disclose names of the players he was referring to.

Two weeks ago, Mpulula dismissed his captain Mapopa Msukwa and his deputies Lumbani Munthali and Kondwani Lufeyo. He appointed Gerald Chimbaka as new captain with John Dzimbiri Jnr as his deputy.

Msukwa reacted by boycotting a Super League game against Red Lions on New Year’s day.

But Mpulula accused him of feeling bigger than the club and warned that stern disciplinary measures would follow.

“No player should be bigger than the club and it is that type of attitude that we need to stamp out,” said Mpulula.

Tigers have 37 points from 26 games.