Mighty Wanderers president and main sponsor Thomson Mpinganjira says while the team’s performance is on the right track, they are far from making the grade. The business mogul and philanthropist was reflecting on the team’s progress on all areas since his appointment as president and board chairperson in 2021. When he accepted the team’s request to become its president, Mpinganjira said with time, he wanted the Nomads to scale the levels of continental giants Mamelodi Sundowns.
“Team performance is heading in the right direction, but far from being there. One of the things we need is to upgrade our technical panel on this journey,” he said. Mpinganjira, who has invested in excess of K2.5 billion in the Lali Lubani Road outfit also bemoaned slow progress in the commercialisation drive to make the team self-sustainable.
He said: “There is not much progress towards any serious and meaningful commercilisation as it is still work in progress. “Sale of merchandise is doing great, but the sums are insignificant compared to total sponsorship to make a meaningful Impact.” Mpinganjira said the club’s commercialisation directorate continues to hunt for sponsorship “and we pray for their success” On whether the team has reached a point where it can do without his financial support, he took a long breath and said: “I am confident that if, for whatever reason, I stopped sponsoring the club, it would struggle but a way forward would be found.” Mpinganjira also hailed supporters, saying in terms of behaviour, there has been tremendous improvement. “Supporters have been great in terms of morale support and behaviour.
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[But] there are no initiatives by supporters yet towards financial contribution,” he said. The Nomads have four teams, the senior, reserve, youth and women’s teams and Mpinganjira meets the bulk of the team’s operations costs, including players’ signing-on fees, game bonuses, as well as salaries and other entitlements for technical staff and management. The club’s director of football David Kanyenda recently said their mission of Making Mighty Mighty Again is on track because of Mpinganjira’s overwhelming support.
“You must understand why we revere our esteemed president so much. No amount of words can fully express the gratitude for all the resources he has placed at the Club’s disposal,” he said.
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