OPINION | By Draxon Maloya
I was far from amused when I first read that FCB Nyasa Big Bullets had parted ways with head coach Peter “Jojo” Mponda early Sunday morning. The timing? Just a day after their arch-rivals, Mighty Wanderers, clinched the 2025 TNM Super League title.
The irony? Both teams still have a game in hand, but with Bullets trailing by five points, the title was already mathematically out of reach.
What’s more baffling is the celebratory tone adopted by some of Bullets’ staunch supporters on social media, praising the club’s management for what a few level-headed football followers have rightly dubbed “an infamous decision that could have waited.”
In my view, Mponda deserved the professional courtesy of presenting a comprehensive technical report—highlighting both his achievements and the shortcomings that led to the team’s underwhelming season. Instead, he was shown the door in a manner that smacks of panic rather than planning.
“Some people want Bullets to be winning each and every game,” Mponda lamented in a visibly emotional post-match interview after a goalless draw against Mighty Tigers on Saturday “But where are such players themselves who can keep on winning like that?”
The 2025 season has exposed glaring weaknesses in Bullets’ setup—none more painful than the three back to back defeats at the hands of their bitter rivals, Wanderers. Such losses should have prompted introspection, not impulsive sackings.
As someone who has both played and coached the beautiful game, I find Mponda’s dismissal not only harsh but also shortsighted. He deserved to be heard.
The unceremonious nature of his exit raises serious questions about the club’s long-term vision. After all, it took Wanderers years of strategic rebuilding to assemble a title-winning squad. Why should Bullets expect instant miracles?
My burning question to the Bullets Board is this: Who replaces Mponda? And more importantly, who among the available candidates can deliver immediate results without the necessary administrative and technical investments?
“Do the People’s Team really have what it takes to reclaim the TNM Super League crown, or are we chasing shadows with no clear plan?” That’s the question that demands an honest answer.
Yes, I acknowledge that some fans have lost faith in Mponda. I, too, understand the frustration. But let’s not forget—this is the same Peter Mponda who led Silver Strikers to the championship last season, succeeding where even the much-hyped expatriate coach, Pieri de Jong, failed.
This is not just about one man losing his job. It’s about a club’s identity, its values, and its commitment to sustainable success. Firing a coach without a clear succession plan is not strategy—it’s desperation.
I write not to defend Mponda blindly, but to call for reason, reflection, and respect. Because in football, as in life, knee-jerk reactions rarely lead to lasting victories.
