Mwaanga fumes after leg breaking tackle

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Tuesday January 12, 2010 00:00

 

BDF XI won the match 2-1. Mwaanga did not have kind words for Nico's assistant coach, Peter Muchina, criticising him for his post-match comments. Muchina said the referee was harsh on Phiri.

Muchina, in charge in the absence of head coach, Paul Gundani, said the referee should have warned Phiri instead of sending him off. 'The players were both fighting for the ball and it is not Phiri's fault that the player broke his leg. It was a 50-50 situation,' he said.

Mwaanga said he was disappointed by Muchina's remarks. He said he did not expect the coach to have said that when his player was seriously injured. 'That was reckless play and the referee was right to give Phiri the red card. It is sad to hear the coach saying that it was fair play.  He tackled my player from behind and now we have lost one of our best players. We will try to motivate him and we hope he makes a quick recovery and come back to play,' Mwaanga said.

Meanwhile, Mwaanga said he was impressed by the way his players stuck to instructions. He  said his team controlled the game in the first half but Nico played well in the second stanza.

The Zambian coach was however not pleased with his team's finishing, adding that they could have scored at least five goals. Muchina said the absence of some key players affected his side. He said they are in the process of introducing some youngsters. Nico missed the services of Thobo 'Fish' Kgoboge and Effat Sekwata while leading goalscorer, Tendai Ndoro was not given room to manoeuvre.