. Atanga

By ELIAS CHIPEPO –
MTN-FAZ Premier League side, Kabwe Warriors players have called on the club sponsors, Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL), to come up with attractive perks to motivate and attract seasoned players.
Speaking during a crisis meeting organised by ZRL chief executive officer (CEO) Muyenga Atanga at the company head office in Lusaka yesterday, the players also pledged to work hard and start getting results for the ‘Magnificent’ side.
The meeting was called by Atanga to help get to the root of the problem facing a Warriors side that has struggled to win a match in the opening four games, having lost two games, drawn one while the weekend match was abandoned following crowd trouble.
Warriors opened the season with a 3-1 defeat to Power Dynamos before forcing a barren draw against Red Arrows but were given a 3-0 thumping by National Assembly prior to the weekend abandoned match against Green Eagles.
Veteran player and striker Owen Mwendalubi said there was need for the ZRL management to consider increasing salaries for the players as that will help bring about motivation and also attract seasoned players to the club.
Mwendalubi called on the management to consider buying the team sports kit and equipment and the issue of accommodation needed to be addressed for the new players, who have been staying at a lodge without their families.
“You can look at the way we are dressed, we came in different attire instead of wearing the same team colours. We have also heard that some people were given salary increments but we do not know if it will apply to us.
“There is need for the management to pay the players well as that will help maintain and attract seasoned players to the team. Many at times we have seen players leave the club for attractive pay elsewhere. We have struggled because most players were offloaded and new ones have just come in and we need time to blend,” he said.
Winger Derrick Mulenga said the players needed to be motivated not only through momentary gain but that there should be a link between the players, executive committee members and the ZRL management.
And Atanga said Warriors poor start to the 2014 MTN-FAZ Premier League season should not be attributed to a single individual but must be a collective responsibility. He urged the players not to despair but build on the defeats and start winning.
Atanga assured the players that ZRL management would address their issues because there was growing concern about the team’s  current performance as evidenced by the weekend action from the fans.
“We called this meeting because we are worried about our team’s performance especially that Warriors is a big club. We are also here to assure you that we are with you and we shall continue supporting you. Our appeal to the fans is for them to be patient and give the team time to turn things around,” he said.
Atanga said it was unfair for fans to pile blame an individual, citing coach Wesley Mondo, but that a thorough diagnosis needed to be conducted as soon as possible to help save the team before it was too late.
“Warriors is a big team and this is why we have expressed concern and let there be no name calling. We as Zambia Railways Limited believe in success and we want this team to be part of that success.
“We have the concerns raised by the players and thus the need to come up certain measures to improve the situation.
“It‘s a collective responsibility and no individual should be blamed for the poor performance. Team work will be very important is achieving this goal,” he said.