DWANGWA United Coach, Macdonald Mtetemera, possesses some unique attributes befitting his profession.
Last season, Mtetemera had some devastating moments when Dwangwa broke his heart countless times by conceding in the dying minutes to draw or lose games.
But Mtetemera remained collected. He is a coach who remains calm and jovial regardless of results. Unlike some fragile coaches, Mtetemera will never snub a reporter on a bad day. Despite a hurting loss, he would first rush onto the pitch to shake hands with his players, offer them some encouraging words before joining them in prayer.
Upon seeing waiting reporters, Mtetemera would present himself to them and respond to every question. “I have learnt a lot during my time as coach and player and I easily come to terms with different results,” Mtetemera said. For someone who has been in the game for a good 32 years, Mtetemera could surely be speaking from experience.
Mtetemera, who is from Chikololele Village, Traditional Authority Nsamala, in Balaka, started his football career at the now disbanded Malawi International Transport Company (Mitco) Football Club where he played for five years before joining MDC United in 1992. He played for MDC for 10 years before turning into a coach-player in 2001.
From 2005, Mtetemera coached Premier Division and Super League teams, among them Blackpool, Azam Tigers, Escom United, Chilomoni Rangers and Prison United. Born in 1968, Mtetemera said the time he spent at Mitco defined his future.
“I started playing in the Super League when I was 18 [years] and that time it was not easy to make it into a Super League club but I thank my coach for having trust in me. This was the period I enjoyed the most and my passion for this game grew,” he said.
Mtetemera was a complete defender, who was known for his calmness and composure at the back. He was nicknamed ‘Nginde’ in the late 80s by Mabvuto Misi, former president of the National Youth Football Association. “Until now I don’t know what ‘Nginde’ means. It is a Zulu name,” he said.
Mtetemera said his memorable game is a Press Cup final game when Mitco faced Bata Bullets in Blantyre. “In that game, we were trailing 1-0 and I equalised in the 89th minute through a header and the game had to be replayed in Lilongwe, where we won,” he said.
He said his impressive performance in 1989 earned him an Under-23 national team call-up but his parents did not allow him to go as he had to first concentrate on his secondary school studies. While playing for MDC, Mtetemera was still on top of his game and caught the eyes of Reuben Malola and Mathias Mwenda who were then senior national team coaches.
He said it was not easy to earn a national team call up, especially as a defender, as there were big names such as Laurent Kamanga, Meke Mwase, Mphatso Namwali and Charles Manda. “When the opportunity presented itself to me, I grabbed it with both hands by offering the best of me in order become a regular national team player,” he said.
Mtetemera said he achieved his goal by making it into the national team, playing for them from 1992 to 1997.
Mtetemera said, during his time, players were encouraged to go to school and that was why their level of understanding was good. “When playing football, you have to understand the game. And proper understanding is accompanied by one’s level of education. “So one of the contributing factors to the dwindling standards of football is players’ poor education,” he said.
He also said the country is failing to produce talented players who can play for several years due to lack of development structures. “During our time, before one made it into the senior national team, he had to play in under-20 and 23 teams but nowadays players are rushed into the national team,” Mtetemera said.
He described his 32year journey in football as fruitful. He won the Press Cup with Mitco and grabbed the Kamuzu Cup with MDC. As a coach, he was at some point appointed as assistant to the then Flames coach, Stephen Constantine. “I think the journey has not been disappointing,” he said. But Mtetemera is yet to shine as a coach.
Having registered some achievements as a player, luck seems to have eluded Mtetemera as a coach as most of teams he has managed in the Super League have either disbanded or faced relegation. Mtetemera is into his second year at Dwangwa and continues to hunt for his first silverware as coach. He is optimistic that, given support, he can deliver at Dwangwa.
“The sky is the limit. If given the support, with a conducive working environment, I will make history with Dwangwa,” Mtetemera said.
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