Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have moved on to fill the vacant position left by Burundian Coach, Nswazwirimo Ramadan earlier this year after a shock start to the season when they lost to Mzuzu City Hammers and Silver Strikers in two consecutive weeks.
The Nomads had appointed Meke Mwase as an interim coach, assisted by Bob Mpinganjira. Mwase has managed to transform the team from a participating team to a competing team as they are now close to Silver Strikers on the title race.
The performance of the team prompted the administration to give Meke Mwase, a permanent job at the team after being impressed with the results of the team.
The team’s Chief Executive Officer, Panganeni Ndovi, has confirmed that Mwase has done a lot to the team and deserves the hot seat at the Lali Lubani side before the Club announced the development officially on Sunday morning.
“Mighty Wanderers Football Club 2021 Limited is pleased to announce the confirmation of Meke Mwase as the Club’s Head Coach with immediate effect. We wish Coach Meke Mwase all the best as he stirs Mighty Mukuru Wanderers FC to greater heights,” reads the announcement of the team.
Ndobvi said the team has showed great resistance and progress during the tenure of Mwase as an interim coach and everything has completed changed.
“During his stay, he has shown great leadership and mentorship skills that has completely changed the team to do well in the League. We are happy to have him and we expect more from him.” Said Ndovi.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers took months before confirming Mwase as their permanent coach despite the team managing to grind results.
The Nomads were planning to announce Mwase’s appointment at the end of the first round but a defeat to Moyale Barracks at Kamuzu Stadium forced the management to delay the decision, Wa Mpira understands.
Since Mwase’s appointment as interim coach in May this year, Wanderers just lost two games out of 15 matches played in all competitions. They lost Moyale Barracks and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.They won 11 games and played two draws against Dedza Dynamos and Mafco FC.
Mwase tasked to win at least two trophies
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have injected a target of winning two trophies from three trophies that the team is battling for after losing the FDH Bank Cup which was claimed by the Chipiku Central Region Football League side, Blue Eagles who beat FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.
Despite the announcement of Mwase’s appointment as head coach, the two parties are yet to finalize the details of the contract terms including the duration. The club’s Chief Executive Officer, Panganeni Ndovi said Wanderers are a big team and they want to regain their lost glory.
“We have tasked him [Meke Mwase] to win at least two trophies this season out of the remaining three trophies,” said Ndovi. “Wanderers is a big brand, so we want to regain the glory.”
Since winning the TNM Super League in 2017, their first after winning it in 2007, the Nomads have won just one trophy, beating their cross-town rivals, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in the Airtel Top 8 Cup in 2022 at Bingu National Stadium in a game that was decided on penalties.
Appointing Mwase as an interim coach helped the Nomads to stir back into the title race as they are just seven points from the leaders, Silver Strikers after playing 20 games each.
The Lali Luban based side claimed a 1-0 advantage over Bangwe All Stars in the first leg of the Airtel Top 8 Cup quarterfinals and they will travel to Balaka for a return leg, should FAM confirm the venue. The winner of the tie will face Silver Strikers or Dedza Dynamos but the Bankers already claimed a 4-1 advantage in the first leg.
Ndovi said should Mwase fail to win the league, he must win the Top 8 Cup or Castel Challenge Cup.
Peter Mponda on Sunday downplayed pressure from Wanderers on the title race saying the Nomads will not exert Amy pressure on them.
“I don’t think there is any team that is giving us pressure, if it was [FCB Nyasa Big] Bullets we could say yes these guys will come on us because they have done it before, coming from behind but I don’t think Wanderers will catch us,” said Mponda.
