Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Joseph Kamwendo has reportedly challenged his demotion in the coaching ranks of his childhood club in Malawi.
Malawi’s The Daily Times newspaper reports that Kamwendo has engaged a lawyer seeking legal redress following his demotion from Mighty Mukuru Wanderers FC assistant coach to a similar role for the reserve team of the Blantyre-based top-flight league club.
The newspaper quoted Kamwendo as having described his redeployment as witch-hunting.
“I was hired as an assistant coach and not head coach. Why did they redeploy me only and not my boss? I will not comment much, for the rest on the matter talk to my lawyer [David Kanyenda],” he said.
Wanderers Public Affairs Manager Ernest Maganga justified Kamwendo’s demotion saying they wanted him to obtain coaching badges required for the post.
“Kamwendo was redeployed to the reserve team to gain experience and also give him a chance to upgrade his coaching qualifications. He doesn’t have papers to coach at senior level. We did not want to risk fines from the authorities for using unqualified coach in the elite league,” Maganga said.
The former Vasco da Gama playmaker refused to comment when FARPost contacted him seeking his reaction to reports that Wanderers had demoted him.
“As far as I know, I don’t want to comment on this issue because I know that I have a contract with Wanderers. I am just following my contract and if any changes, then the club will officially tell me,” he tells FARPost.
The former TP Mazembe midfielder retired from playing football some two years ago and was made assistant coach to work with technical director Eddingtone Ng’onamo at the start of the elite TNM Super League season.
Wanderers’ management has since hired Alex Ngwira as coach and will be working with Ng’onamo.
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