Big Bullets head coach Eddington Ngonamo and his assistant Gerald Phiri have dismissed speculation that they are Mighty Wanderers sympathisers, setting the record straight that they are professionals.
Speaking during a press conference held on Friday evening at Bullets Club House in Blantyre, the coaches said they had come out in the open after receiving threats from some Bullets fans.
The fans bayed for the blood of the coaches after 2-1 loss to Mighty Wanderers. The supporters faulted Ng’onamo and Phiri for substituting midfielder James Chilapondwa and the manner in which substitute goalkeeper Kingsley Manda let in the second goal.
“We substituted Chilapondwa after he raised his arms signalling that he was injured. And there was nothing we could do on the injury of goalkeeper Vincent Gona. After the game, some fans wanted to beat us up while warning that we must not be involved in the next Wanderers game,†said Ng’onamo who had a stint with Wanderers.
“We have to set the record straight that, despite having worked for Wanderers some time back, we were employed by Bullets and we are professionals. I have worked as coach for 30 years with different clubs and it is unfair to associate me with one club.â€
With Bullets set to face Wanderers again on July 28 in a Carlsberg sponsorship launch match, Ng’onamo warned that if he received the threats again, he would throw in the towel. Phiri, too, said it was wrong for fans to judge him on a single game result.
Bullets chairperson Malinda Chinyama said they decided to host the press conference after the coaches complained that theirn lives were in danger. n
