Former Buccaneers on downward spiral

The glittering careers of two former Orlando Pirates midfielders seems on a downward spiral and in fact, might have come to a stuttering end after one was given his clearance and the other suspended for ill-discipline respectively.

Isaac Chansa and seven other players were this week off-loaded by Zambian Premier League club – Zanaco – after the team finished the season on a disappointing sixth position and have gone on a massive rebuilding process that has resulted in several casualties.

The other players axed with Chansa are George Chilufya, former Power Dynamos midfielder Richard Kasonde, Zimbabwean defender Zimisileni Moyo, Kennedy Musonda, Chongo Chirwa, Andrew Kwiliko and Didi Kitumbo who have all been given their clearances.

But another former Pirates midfielder – Josephy Kamwendo – who was popularly known around South Africa as “Shakira” although Augusto Palacios preferred to call him “Kashera,” has been slapped with a four-match ban for petulant behavior.

Kamwendo reacted childishly when he was substituted in a league match for Be Forward Wanderers against Silver Strikers at the Kamazu Stadium recently, walking straight to the dressing room and allegedly refusing to shake the hands of the Technical committee and then getting into an argument with Team Manager Steve Madeira

“Shakira,” who has also played for Liga Deportivo de Maputo, TP Mazembe and FC Nordsjælland in Denmark, was fined K50 000 or about R10 000 for all his troubles.

General Secretary Mike Butao and Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee Allan Chuma explained that the ban excludes the first next Wanderers match because the player could have already automatically missed the match having accumulated two yellow cards in previous two assignments.

“You are suspended for four games and fined K50 000 following your gross misconduct after being substituted on 27th October 2018 in the game versus Silver Strikers at Kamuzu Stadium,” reads part of the letter.

According to the letter, Kamwendo has never displayed humility but has always displayed negative actions whenever substituted.

This also happened when he was substituted in the Carlsberg Cup final against Masters Security which the Nomads (Wanderers) lost 5-4 on penalties after settling for a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

It is alleged that after the substitution, the player threatened coaches that they will lose their jobs for their decision to substitute a player of his calibre.

Last Sunday after his substitution, Kamwendo charged on Team Manager Steve Madeira and accused him of being responsible for his substitution.

“This is not acceptable and no player is bigger or will ever be bigger than Wanderers. Your behaviour has been tolerated for a while but it is destroying the fabric of the team,” reads the suspension letter.

The letter further warned that a repeat of Kamwendo’s unacceptable behaviour would result into an instant dismissal.