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Chirwa
New brooms to sweep cleaner? Perhaps. A complete new team on Sunday moved in at Lali Lubani Road, home of MTL Wanderers FC, where a vibrant and a predominantly youthful new executive committee headed by Sydney Chikoti was elected into office.
There was a carnival atmosphere at the club when Fam general secretary Roosvelt Mpinganjira announced the results for the hot seat of chair which Chikoti won overwhelmingly, seeing off his only contender Aziz Issa whom he beat with 129 votes against a miserable five.
Gladwell Chimtande was elected first vice chair with another landslide victory over former second vice chairman Edward Kavwenje whom he beat with 191 votes against only six.
Max Mapemba cracked the nod for the post of second vice chair. But it was the post of general secretary, fought for by the team’s former striker Hannock Ng’oma and ex-team manager Jimmy Fombe, which proved tight and exciting.
Smartly dressed in black suits, both Ng’oma and Fombe anxiously waited for results in the club house as they sipped soft drinks. Ng’oma came out victor in the first run in which he got 143 against Fombe’s 92 but the latter’s supporters cried foul and demanded a re-run which was again won by Ng’oma who now amassed 154 votes against 92. Youthful lawyer Chipiliro Mpinganjira was elected vice general secretary unopposed.
The position of treasurer went to Zizenge Kumwenda while Kingsly Metekesa saw off Leonard Fulaye with 134 votes against only two to become the new vice treasurer.
Immediately after his election, Chikoti went down to work and assured the huge gathering that the nomads will restore their lost glory.
“My prime objective is to take Wanderers where they belong and that is at the pinnacle of local football. We are tired of being perennial number twos, and come October next year, we will be back where we belong...we’ll win the Super League championship,” said Chikoti amid loud applause from the over enthusiastic fans.
Chikoti, who was the treasurer in the previous executive, also said he has set his sights on bringing transparency and accountability to win back the confidence of the sponsors, supporters as well as the fans.
“As a new executive committee we will strive to win back the confidence from all stakeholders especially the sponsors, who have not been very pleased with the way finances were handled,” assured the new nomads’ boss.
He also said his committee will strive to uplift players’ welfare which he noted was very much neglected.
“For a long while players were neglected and we forgot that they are the prime product which drives the team. Instead supporters became more important than the players—we are going to reverse that,” said the stout new Wanderers boss.
Chikoti also stressed that the new executive will make sure that the roles of the supporters are clearly defined whereby they should not expect to benefit from the team.
He also said the new executive will work on a mechanism for fund-raising stressing that “we should not expect that all our budgetary needs will be met by the sponsors.”
Messrs Lester Tandwe, Mabvuto Missi, Davis Msadala and James Chuma were elected new executive committee members.
One of the senior players Sherry Msuku and a staunch nomads fan and former supporters committee chair Pascal Nkuta said they were happy with the outcome of the elections.
Msuku said: “The elections were free and fair and as players, we are happy with the officials that have been elected. They have got a vision for the team, we’ll now be much dedicated than before because we feel these are the people who will have the welfare of the players at heart and I want to assure all Wanderers fans that we will give out our best.”
On his part Nkuta said: “I am optimistic that the new executive will deliver, they are very focused and ambitious, as supporters we will give them all the support.”
Speaking earlier on outgoing general secretary Aubrey Monjeza, Sulom treasurer Kondi Msungama and Fam executive member Flora Mwandira appealed to the supporters to vote into office people who will turn around the fortunes of the club.
“Whatever decisions you are going to make today will determine the future of this team,” said Msungama.
The previous executive comprised among others Humphrey Mvula, Jack Kamwendo, Kavwenje, Monjeza, Mike Butao, Ken Langwani and Suzgo Ngwira.
Some of the team’s old players like Kannock ‘Bruno’ Munde, Billiat Mkwapatira, Morson ‘Wishe’ Ndlovu, Ojukwu Malunga and Bob Mpinganjira were present during the elections.
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