Wa Ganyu
The ‘Zimayamba ndi Manoma’ (Everything begins with Wanderers) vibe ended in 2018 when the team won the Fisd Cup before plunging into a trophyless dry season.
However, the song was revived upon the arrival of a self proclaimed saviour, sent by an ‘angel’ to bring happiness to a team that had gone seasons with nothing to show for its seat.
Some sat and watched. The movie started on March 4, 2024 when Mighty Mukuru Wanderers announced the arrival of Burundian coach Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan as their head coach.
This is how it started
Wa Ganyu journalists received a call at 7AM from Wanderers media officers to provide coverage during the arrival of Ramadhan at Chileka International Airport.
Transport was provided, “the bus for journalists is at Shoprite in Blantyre. We need to be at the Airport by 8AM,” said the media officer.
At 10AM Ramadhan touched down on Malawi soil, raising his index finger.
Politically, raising the index finger is a symbol for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Malawi, but Ramadhan later clarified.
“This is not representing the party, but it is a symbol—meaning that Wanderers will be on top,” he said while fans cheered.
Before leaving the airport, Ramadhan said, “Ramadhan wabwera anthu atamanga [athamanga], sindidabwerere Bullet [Bullets] koma ndabwerera matimu onse (Ramadhan has come and teams will run. I’ve not come for Bullets but all teams),” he said.
Wanderers’ supporters were dancing in jubilation while singing ‘talandire talandire, talandireee! A kochi athu, talandireee abwera lero talandire.”
Minutes later he boarded a well washed black Jeep registration number CA 6646 from the Airport and he did not go straight to Golden Peacock where he was scheduled to address the media.
The vehicle was driven by Wanderers board director Christopher Gondwe with fans boarding the Wanderers team bus.
They paraded Ramadhan like a trophy through Kameza Roundabout, Chirimba, Chemusa, Mbayani, Blantyre CBD, Kamba, Kwacha Roundabout before arriving at Golden Peacock hotel, waving fans from the Jeep’s open sunroof.
Seven board directors namely Chancy Gondwe, Limbani Magomero, Tiya Somba Banda, Madalitso Musa, Dr. Andrex Kalinde, David Kanyenda and Christopher plus over 50 supporters converged at the hotel in Mzimba room to welcome the ‘saviour’.
Ramadhan seated in front, to his left was Chancy Gondwe and Somba-Banda to the right. He was wearing an orange shirt with blue trousers with a white and blue scarf hanging around his neck.
All board members were given an opportunity to speak including supporters chair Mervin Nkunika. They were happy to see Ramadhan and they talked of trophies which would follow.
“Out of 15 coaches, we have spotted Ramadhan because of his experience and we know he will give us happiness,” said board member Chancy Gondwe.
Board member Musa gave him a blue and orange jersey while Christopher Gondwe gave him a ball. Just after receiving the ball he chested it down, followed by some beautiful da-da-da (juggling) with supporters cheering. “Apa ndiye zikho zonse tisesa (We will sweep all trophies),” one shouted.
Ramadhan speaks…
It was not an address to the media but rather to the supporters. He grabbed the microphone, calm and composed, Ramadhan spoke as if he was a pastor teaching the holy word.
His sermon was coming from the title ‘happiness’ telling supporters that he is in for happiness.
This is what he said:
“Sindidabwere kuno kudzatenga zikho, ndabwera kudzakhazikitsa chisangalalo (I haven’t come to win trophies. I’m here to share happiness). I am here for happiness.
“Dr. [Thom] Mpinganjira is not looking for cups, but he is looking for happiness.”
“A Bullet[s] atha kubwera ku Wanderers chifukwa kukhala chisangalalo (Bullets fans can come to Wanderers because there will be happiness).”
“If Wanderers are not disciplined, then I am ready to jump the ship,” he said.
Coming back to Malawi was not out of desperation, fans were told. Ramadhan, told the gathering, he left a proper job to come to Malawi. “I am not here because of money; I am here to give you happiness.
“An angel came to me and said go and serve the nation that lost happiness,” he added.
Those words were enough to win the hearts of Wanderers supporters who last won the league in 2017. They thought the glory days would come again at Lali Lubani.
Three days later, Ramadhan announced happiness in practical terms in a friendly match against Ekhaya FC, a match which was played on March 7, 2024.
The match ended 7-0 in favor of Nomads with Gaddie Chirwa and Lawrence Chaziya registering a brace with other goals coming from Clement Nyondo, Misheck Botomani and Wisdom Mpinganjira.
The team camped for 21 days in Mponela, Dowa district, where they played six friendly matches and won five, drawing one with Dedza Dynamos, sending a strong message to fans.
Club president Thomson Mpinganjira had hope: “For the first time Wanderers has gone in camp for 21 days. I believe this coach will give us trophies,” he told Wa Ganyu in an exclusive interview.
League starts:
The league started with Super League of Malawi (Sulom) announcing the winner will, for the first time, go home with a cool K100 million from K40 million in the previous season.
Ramadhan started his league campaign on April 22 welcoming Kamuzu Barracks at Kamuzu Stadium. The match ended 1-1. After the match, he blamed the draw on catch up games.
“But these catch up games are always difficult, Bullets played yesterday, and we played today, we couldn’t withstand the pressure,” he said. Bullets had played to a 1-1 draw to Dedza a day before Wanderers played.
His next match was against FOMO away to Mulanje and there was happiness following a 3-0 victory but failed to sustain it in their third match after a goalless draw against Bangwe All Stars at Mpira Stadium.
There was another draw against Bullets before a 1-0 victory against Karonga United at Kamuzu Stadium. Their first away match to the central region ended in tears as they lost 2-0 to Silver Strikers before another 2-0 defeat to Mzuzu City Hammers at Mzuzu Stadium.
It was that moment when supporters demanded his removal. This happened when the bus was leaving Mzuzu Stadium singing “Ramadhan achoke (Ramadhan must go)”
On Monday morning when the team was back from the north on May 27, Ramadhan announced his resignation.
In his short response, when asked, he said; “If the table doesn’t serve you anymore, what do you do? Complete the sentence….yes! I won’t comment further.”
Wanderers’ chief executive officer Panganeni Ndovi confirmed that Ramadhan has indeed resigned.
“We wish him all the best, this means that his assistant Meck Mwase will take charge,” he said.
In 2015 Ramadhan was in the country to coach Bullets but he was chased by supporters.
He spoke to the media then; “It was a very frightening experience for me. They charged at me while wielding pangas and shouting: ‘Choka iwe siunabwera ndi Kondi iwe!’ [get lost, you came with Kondi].
“I had to flee the stadium and up to now I am failing to come to terms with what wrong I did to deserve such treatment because I have an agreement with the team. I had to speed off from the stadium for my safety because these guys were serious,” he said.
His first time to come to Malawi was in 1996 to coach Bullets but he was fired five years later in 2001. Wanderers roped him but spent only one year. His arrival in March 2024 was a fourth attempt in Malawi.
