The loss of three key players and a head coach can undoubtedly unsettle the rhythm of any team.
Fallen Lilongwe giants, Civo United, can bear witness to what happens when a team fails to cope with the departure of influential players and a coach.
The civil servants were a competitive side—capable of beating any top team in the country.
Their quality manifested itself in the 2015 season when they won the Standard Bank Knock Out Cup (defunct) after defeating Be Forward Wanderers 1-0.
But it was the departure of key figures in succession— captain Emmanuel Zoya, his vice John Lanjesi and coach Oscar Kaunda—that resulted into a free-fall which saw the team finish second from bottom in the Super League.
One team that risked following Civo down that path is Azam Tigers. The team lost its first and second choice goalkeepers, Ernest Kakhobwe and Nenani Juwaya, respectively, in the 2016 season.
But the Kau Kau recovered with William Thole springing out from nowhere to man the goalkeeping department.
The young custodian helped his team withstand the heat in the Super League.
Tigers have also coped with the departure of talents such as Isaac Kaliyati and Stanley Sanudi.
And Tigers seem geared to defy the odds again. This is despite recently losing star players, Peter Mpulula, Yamikani Chester and Bright Munthali, who have signed for Kamuzu Barracks, Wanderers and Nyasa Big Bullets, respectively.
Tigers Technical Director, Robin Alufandika, said the club anticipated the departure of the three players and coach, Gerald Phiri Senior, and had contingency plans.
“These are players who were being tracked by several teams and we knew it was just a matter of time before they crossed over. Phiri was constantly on national team assignments. So we were prepared for the departure,” Alufandika said.
He said Phiri has since been replaced by Patrick Kulemeka and eight new players have beefed up the squad.
Alufandika said his team is ready for the new season.
Leave a Reply