Former Pirates striker and ex-Baroka winger shown exit door

Former Pirates striker and ex-Baroka winger shown exit door

Malawi’s Mighty Mukuru Wanderers FC have released former Orlando Pirates striker Chiukepo Msowoya and ex-Baroka FC winger Robin Ngalande. The six-time TNM Super League champions have offloaded the duo as part of a pre-season reshuffle.

Why the ex-Pirates man has left Wanderers

Wanderers Chief Executive Officer, Roosevelt Mpinganjira, has confirmed the reshuffle. He told The Nation newspaper that the Nomads have decided against extending one-year contracts for the Pirates’ outcast Msowoya and the ex-Platinum Stars winger. The CEO said: “Chiukepo, Ngalande, Adeleke and Gabeya’s contracts have either expired or are due for expiry and they won’t be renewed.”

Struggles at Pirates followed by loan spells elsewhere

Msowoya signed for Pirates in 2012 two years after singlehandedly guiding Malawi’s Flames to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola. However, the ex-ESCOM United burly forward struggled to replicate his form in the PSL. The 35-year-old scored some two goals in 17 appearances for Pirates. He eventually joined Platinum Stars on loan a season later.

Four years later, the former FCB Nyasa Big Bullets forward resurfaced in the PSL at Golden Arrows. However, the short-term deal proved disastrous. The Pirates reject registered a red and an own goal in some six appearances before returning to Bullets in 2017.

Former Wits attacker also among the casualties

The ex-Pirates man has seen the exit door alongside Ngalande, a former Atletico Madrid Youth team attacker. He was rated highly the BBC once christened the Malawian as the next Samuel Eto’o Fils. However, the Malawian left Atletico Madrid Youth and opted to sign for Bidvest Wits. A loan move to Ajax Cape Town paid little dividends. He moved to Baroka FC then Zire FK in Azerbaijan in 2019 before returning home to sign for Wanderers last season.

Msowoya is not the only player shown the exit door at Wanderers. Nigerian defender Adeleke Kolawole, Miracle Gabeya, and midfielder Matthews Masamba have also left the Blantyre-based outfit.

Wanderers reunite with ex-Black Leopards coach

The Nomads, as Wanderers are fondly called, have since hired former Black Leopards’ handler Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan as head coach. He has replaced ex-Chippa United and Golden Arrows mentor Mark Harrison who quit Wanderers in December 2023. Ramadhan had a stint with Lidoda Duvha around 2005 when he worked under Bobby Solomons. Wanderers have also roped in former Jomo Cosmos defender-turned-Flames coach Meck Mwase as his deputy.

The Burundi-born coach has rejoined Wanderers after his brief spell with them in 2001. He had then crossed the floor from rivals Big Bullets in his second spell with the Malawi champions. Bullets are the current champions of the TNM Super League whose season runs from April to December.

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