Nkana and Kabwe Warriors will certainly have new coaches on the bench come Wednesday when the respective Super Division sides take to the field in Week 17 games.
Reports from Warriors are that the Railwaymen are set to hire former Zambia defender and icon at Railway Grounds John “Butcher” Mwanza as their new coach starting on Tuesday ahead of their scheduled match against visiting Zanaco.
“Butcher” will be a permanent replacement for George Lwandamina who was fired just two months into his reign at the start of this season.
According to sources, interim coach Happy Sichikolo who arrived at Warriors with Lwandamina will stay and revert back to his role as assistant trainer.
However, one Warriors insider has said the problem is not with the coaching bench.
“The problems at Warriors have nothing to do with the coach,” the source said. “It has more to do with management interference and also another thing is the team does not have the quality of players to even win the league even if you brought a new coach.”
9th placed Warriors on Sunday lost 1-0 at home to Nkwazi in 5th spot to lose their third game in Kabwe this season after earlier suffering defeats to Power Dynamos and National Assembly.
“Butcher” is set to join Warriors from Division 1 north side Ndola United where he was head coach.
Meanwhile, Nkana will name a new coach before facing Nchanga Rangers in Kitwe after some unconvincing results from the caretaker coaching duo of Fedelis “Josimar” Chungu and Fred “Schemer” Siame who have been in charge since Benjamin “Kawilo” Chilongo suddenly quit in late June.
The decision to hire a new coach came after Sundays humiliating 3-0 away defeat at the hands of Red Arrows in Lusaka as fears grow their combustible fans might riot on Wednesday should they lose to Rangers.
“They (Josimar and Schemer) have failed and we don’t want any problems with our supporters on Wednesday when we play Nchanga Rangers,” a Nkana official said. “We are taking action because our fans were very unhappy with what happened.”
Nkana have already shortlisted three coaches for the job led by their former player and assistant coach Kenneth “Bubble” Malitoli who is currently coaching Division 1 north team Kalulushi Modern Stars.
“Bubble” is being challenged for the job by the well-traveled Alfred Lupiya and Manfred Chabinga who until recently was with Gaborone United in Botswana.
Chabinga meanwhile, was earlier linked with Warriors but the two parties are believed to have failed to agree on terms.
SCORECARD
2010 CAF Confederations Cup Last 16, 1st Leg
Sunset Stadium, Lusaka
Zanaco 4(Eugene Shamkamba 2″, Mathews Macha 6″, Ignatius Lwipa 29″, Winstone Kalengo 44″)- Enyimba (Nig) 0
Faz Super Division Week 16
17/07/2010
Nchanga Rangers 2(Chileshe Kabwe 9″, Floyd Phiri 67″)-Konkola Blades 1(Chipulu Chileya 69″)
Power Dynamos 3(Luka Lungu 2″ 53″, Joseph Sitali 80″)-Choma Eagles 0
Kabwe Warriors 0-Nkwazi 1(Keegan Phiri 1″)
18/07/2010
National Assembly 1 (Mundia Makokwa 23″)-City of Lusaka 0
Green Buffaloes 1(John Musukwa 8″)-Roan United 0
Lusaka Dynamos 1(Patson Kaimana 49″)-Forest Rangers 3(Rodrick Kabwe 30″, Mala Besa 42″, Kameta Mutambo 60″)
Red Arrows 3(Dube Phiri 20″ 63″, Jimmy Njovu 80″)-Nkana 0
Postponed
Zesco United-Zanaco
2010 TOP SCORERS
18/06/2010
Dube Phiri (Red Arrows): 11
Chipulu Chileya (Konkola Blades): 6
Enock Sakala (Zesco United): 5
Vanecious Mapande (Zanaco): 5
Kennedy Chola (Green Buffaloes): 5
Reuben Tembo (Green Buffaloes): 5
Douglas Chiwaya (Nkana):5
Lineker Mwikisa (Green Buffaloes): 5
Keegan Phiri (Nkwazi): 5
Mathews Macha (Zanaco): 5
Winston Kalengo: 5
Luka Lungu (Power Dynamos): 4
Patson Kaimana (Lusaka Dynamos): 4
Jackson Mwanza (Zesco United):4
Makundika Sakala (Zanaco): 4
Division One
Week 19
North
Konkola Mine Police 3-Chambishi 0
Mufulira Police 1- Chingola Leopards 0
Mansa Health Stars 2- Mufulira wanderers 0
Mufulira Blackpool 1- Zamtel 0
Chindwin Sentries 0- Kitwe United 0
Mining Rangers 1- Prison Leopards 0
Kalulushi Modern Stars 1- Ndola United 0
Indeni 2- Medical Stars 0
Kalewa 1- Lime Hotspurs 1
South
Zesco Shockers 3 Kafue Celtic 1
Young Green Eagles 1 Luena Barracks 0
Livingstone Pirates 1 Kalomo Jetters 1
TP Rangers 2 Mazabuka United 0
Nakambala 2 Lusaka Tigers 0
LCC 2 Green Eagles 1
Kum’mawa 0 Paramilitary 2
Riflemen 0 Profund Warriors 0
Communite -Nampundwe (Not played)
Yangu ba Mighty, are you gonna bounce back in super laegue? Please pull up your pants.