Peter Mponda: Is Senaji very important player for team? I don’t think so

Malawian football legend Peter Mponda has offered a scathing assessment of Kenyan defender Clyde Senaji Navade, whose behavior continues to draw headlines in Malawi. Mponda’s comments come as Senaji remains absent from training with FCB Nyasa Big Bullets following their 1-0 defeat to Mighty Wanderers FC in the Blantyre derby.

Senaji, who joined Bullets in 2023 and extended his contract in 2024, has faced questions regarding his performance and commitment, particularly last season. While he started this season positively, his form dipped in the Wanderers game, leading to his substitution in the first half.

Following this, Senaji reportedly became upset and requested a two-week leave. However, he has yet to return to team training since.

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Mponda, who recently returned from national team duty at COSAFA, recounted the situation: “When I was with the National Team, he didn’t train with the team, and the following week he didn’t again. The coaches were told that he was waiting for the coach [me] and he has something to talk to me. So, when I came, he told me that he went to the office and asked for a two-week leave and I said okay.”

However, Mponda expressed his reservations about the timing. “But then, we are in the middle of the season and the player is asking for a leave. If it was an emergency thing, we could say yes, but it’s not an emergency, and we don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes.”

“Is He a Very Important Player? I Don’t Think So.”

Mponda then questioned Senaji’s overall impact on the team. “Let’s look at last season, how many games did Senaji play? It’s less than 12 games. Is he a very important player for the team? I don’t think so.“

The coach also revealed past issues with the defender. “I came in as a coach this season, I made him a Captain. We had some issues which were not good for the team; we took off the armband from him and gave it to Banega [Lloyd Aaron].”

Mponda emphasized the expectation for international players. “He was also struggling to make it into the team, he is an international player. I believe that if you are an international player, you must bring something to the team. You cannot even fail to break into the team and be average. It’s better to have local players.”

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets is now awaiting Senaji’s return to training to address the situation. “We are still waiting for him, waiting for his two-week leave to find out what’s the problem. Is he having a problem with the team, or coaches? Then we can see how we can sort it out. But I believe that if you are an international player, you are twice as good as local players,” Mponda concluded.