Bullets order Coach Mponda to handle media assignments

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Peter Mponda has been notably absent from media engagements for over a month, raising questions about communication strategy at one of Malawi’s most followed football clubs.

Mponda’s last media assignments came during the early November fixture when FCB Nyasa Big Bullets faced Blue Eagles. The head coach fulfilled his media obligations across multiple platforms during that period. The day before the match, he engaged with the club’s internal media team. On match day itself, he appeared twice on MBC TV and once on MBC Radio 2, providing the usual pre-match and post-match analysis that supporters have come to expect.

His final interview in Blantyre came ahead of the highly anticipated FDH Bank Cup clash against rivals Mighty Wanderers. In that pre-match briefing, Mponda delivered strong remarks about his team’s preparation, expressing confidence in their approach to the crucial fixture. Following the disappointing defeat, the head coach showed characteristic grace under pressure, praising his players for their performance despite the result.

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Since then, silence.

In the month that has followed, Mponda has granted no interviews, leaving a significant void in the club’s media presence. The responsibility has fallen to Assistant Coach Gilbert Chirwa, who has stepped into the breach to handle media assignments. However, even Chirwa’s involvement has been limited. His last pre-match press conference took place three weeks ago, ahead of the Civil Service United fixture.

Since that press conference, Bullets have played through a busy schedule that included matches against Kamuzu Barracks, Creck Sporting, Karonga United, Moyale Barracks, and Ekhaya FC. Notably, none of these fixtures were preceded by the traditional pre-match media briefings that fans and journalists have relied upon for team news and tactical insights.

This media blackout represents an unusual departure from normal practice at the club. While Chirwa has handled media duties before earlier in the season, Mponda had remained actively involved alongside him, maintaining regular communication with supporters through various channels. The current complete absence of the head coach from media interactions marks uncharted territory for the club.

The situation has not gone unnoticed at the highest levels of the club’s hierarchy. When news reached the management that Mponda was avoiding media responsibilities, President Konrad Buckle intervened directly. Buckle issued clear instructions to the head coach, reminding him that media engagement is an integral part of his responsibilities as the club’s most senior technical official.

Despite these directives from the club president, Mponda has continued to maintain his distance from media obligations. The situation came to a head following the recent victory over Ekhaya FC. Assistant Coach Gilbert Chirwa, presumably attempting to fill the communication gap, prepared to conduct post-match interviews. However, in an unprecedented move, he was blocked from doing so by the club’s own media team.

The media team’s justification was straightforward and rooted in protocol: media responsibilities fall under the purview of the head coach unless there are exceptional circumstances that prevent him from fulfilling this duty. With Mponda present and available, there was no such justification for delegation. The result was total silence from Bullets’ technical panel following the match, leaving journalists and supporters without the usual post-match analysis and comments.

The incident following the Ekhaya match appears to have served as a catalyst for change. Recognizing that the situation had become untenable, Bullets management has since moved decisively to address the issue. The club has formally approached Mponda with clear expectations that he resume his media responsibilities immediately, rather than continuing to avoid them.

The message from the club’s leadership was unambiguous: media engagement is not optional but rather a fundamental aspect of the head coach’s role. As the face of the team’s technical operations, Mponda’s presence in pre-match briefings and post-match interviews provides crucial communication between the club and its substantial supporter base.

Silver Strikers’ Head Coach Peter Mgangira last gave an interview when his team beat Mighty Wanderers in FDH Bank Cup final and all media assignments have been handled by Assistant Coach Ken Mapopa Msukwa.