Of Star Player Joseph Kamwendo and the Mighty Be Forward Wanderers: Malawi Football

According to Thursdays’ edition of the Daily Times; Wanderers football club has told star player Joseph Kamwendo to stop “castigating” Wanderers in the Newspapers else he may be suspended by the club. This war of words between Kamwendo and the club has gone on and on for some time since the gossip that Kamwendo controls even the coach resurfaces. Kamwendo had disputed this allegation as nonsense and asked those spreading such rumours to apologise. The club’s decision to take away the Captain’s arm band from Kamwendo; simply added fire to what many treated as mere gossip. This is the same Kamwendo who wanted to quit Wanderers last year only to change his mind and became the instrumental player in Be Forward wanderer’s glory to the championship. It is a fact that when at one time Kamwendo was suspended; Wanderers struggled.

The story of Kamwendo reminds me when l was in primary school at Sosola LEA in Machinga; when we had naughty a player by the name of Jadex ‘Shanana’ Dzonzi. Whether Jadex was his real name given by his parents, we could not believe it. However, this talented left-footed player was a beauty to watch. A player of immense talent and had the whole future before him; but the boy was another character!

One day he was caught in the girls’-self boarding hostels. When the girls shouted for help, the deputy headmaster was the first to arrive and caught Jadex pants-down. He was taken to the headmaster house where instead of the headmaster punishing Jadex he rebuked the girls for not believing Jadex’s argument that he got lost that’s why he was found in the girls’ hostels. Everyone including the deputy headmaster were disappointed.

One day during training, the Sports master could not believe when he discovered that Jadex was smelling beer. He quickly grabbed Jadex to the headmaster’s office and explained what happened. The headmaster asked Jadex about it, but he told the headmaster that he took Mazoe ( a drink from Zimbabwe) at home for lunch that’s what the Sports master was mistaking it for beer. The headmaster lambasted the deputy and schooled him that not every smell entails that one has taken beer. The Sports master, a drunkard himself who could not have mistaken Chibuku smell, could not believe his eyes!

Then hell broke loose one Friday night, when the headmaster encountered Jadex as he was coming from the room of his daughters. The headmaster was furious! He went to the daughters and shouted at them as to why they left their room unlocked prompting the ‘good Jadex’ to come and remind them! He shouted at them as to what would have happened had Jadex being a criminal! The daughters were speechless!!

The headmaster was shielding this star player because we had a game during the weekend against Mponda LEA School. Being rival schools and bitter enemies in everything including school selection results, the headmaster’s ego was at bay that weekend. A football loss to Mponda School was unacceptable to him, he had to make sure that all his star players were available at any expense.

This is what happens when players feel that they are larger than life, they can take on the whole club at ransom and let the officials dance. Once they realise that they are stars, they will do whatever they can do. For how long is Wanderers going to dance to the tune of Kamwendo? Make no mistake Kamwendo has massive talent, I saw him when he was playing for Pirates; he was one player who made us Nyasas proud in Mzansi. But his attitude needs some panel beating. If only Kamwendo can let only his feet do the talking he might finish his career with another Championship, Wanderers shall put him in the same status as the likes of George Chamangwana, Albert Mpinganjira and the likes.

If Joseph Kamwendo is wrong, let Wanderers punish him accordingly. It is sending a wrong precedent to the other players that while Isaac Kaliat was ruthlessly disciplined others are left free. If Kamwendo is right, then yes Wanderers indeed must apologise to him for tarnishing his good image. Telling someone to keep silent is not a solution. Kamwendo has a constitutional right to express his views in any forum. Just solve the issue and let the Noma family enjoy another season!

By the way, we lost to Mponda LEA that week by five goals to zero with Jadex not even scoring a single goal. The Headmaster collapsed at the end of the game!!!