Swazi Observer

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LOCAL IS LEKKER FOR SIHLANGU

By Sibusiso Masilela | 2018-03-14

SOCCER – IT would seem former Sihlangu coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba will not be returning to coach the national team following a decision by the FA technical committee not to engage a foreign coach.

The technical committee is in a mission to appoint the next senior national team coach.

The former Bafana Bafana coach (Mashaba) has been reportedly linked with a move back to the national pride where he once had a two-year stint between 2008 -2010.

“Mashaba’s chances of returning to the country have been shattered by the national mother body’s technical committee that has since recommended a local coach for the position currently held by former Manzini Wanderers mentor Anthony Mdluli,” said a source within the FA structure.

The source said a list of the local coaches who have recommended by the position would soon be submitted to the FA.

Hiring

“The committee has decided against the hiring of a foreign coach and they suggested that a local coach is needed to take the team forward. The committee will be tabling a list of top local coaches in the likes of Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, Caleb Ngwenya and Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati before the executive committee during their next meeting to be held next week.

“The committee has been given the mandate to scout for a new coach before the COSAFA Cup to take place in May. The interim coach (Anthony Mdluli) might be given the task to continue holding fort during that period if nothing is finalised,” the source said.

Working

FA Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe could not commit himself on the matter when contacted yesterday.

“Such matters are handled by the committees working independently and I haven’t received any correspondence regarding the matter you are talking about,” he briefly said.

The last foreign coach to lead Sihlangu was Dutchman Pieter De Jongh whose string of poor results and inactiveness of the team resulted in the mother body terminating his one-year contract about a month ago.

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