Premier Soccer League legend Elias Pelembe appears to be at loggerheads with the Mozambique national team head coach.
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Last week, Black Mambas head coach Chiquinho Conde announced his squad for their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Uganda and Botswana. A surprise omission was that of former Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits star Pelembe.
After being snubbed, the veteran attacker penned a letter explaining his absence from the previous World Cup qualifiers in March, citing issues with his passport as the reason for being unable to honour the call-up. Now, Conde has responded to Pelembe’s letter, questioning why he chose to release the letter through the media when a simple phone call would have sufficed.
"With all due respect to the media and Domingues, firstly, the letter was an unnecessary situation,” Conde said, according to Mozambique’s Lance website.
“It was enough, because I don't handle matters in the media; things were twisted there, and that has to do with who advises him.
“I am here at the service of a nation, and if you gentlemen continue to question this issue, I think it's starting to show a lack of respect for those who are here, who are called upon, and involved in this very important matter.
“Domingues is the captain of the national team; he’s not here specifically. He deserves all my respect.
“I don't know why you question this so much. You saw perfectly well when I arrived here in 2021 that Dominguez wasn't in the national team. He had already been removed by Luís Goncalves, then by Horacio Gonçalves.
“I arrived and said it was him and 10 others. Out of affection, respect, and consideration, I have nothing against Domingues. I have absolutely nothing to do with it. I'm only committed to the Mozambican Football Federation.
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“They pay me to make decisions, and as such, it's a disciplinary matter; it has a lot to do with the FMF's own guidelines. I'm the coach, and as such, I will take the appropriate measures based on what is in the best interest of the national team's way of life. No one is above an institution—neither I nor anyone will be above an institution," Conde concluded.
