Times Of Swaziland: ‘KOKI’ REINSTATED

‘KOKI’ REINSTATED
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BY THEMBA ZWANE on 14/08/2019 00:51:00


MBABANE – Could they have realised they might have made an irrational
decision?
This is one question many may ask themselves after hub giants Manzini Wanderers
reversed their decision to part ways with head coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati
less than 24 hours after serving him with the ‘divorce’ papers.
Vilakati drilled the maroon and white outfit in the afternoon yesterday after
apparently holding lengthy talks with the club director, Mehluli Nhlengetfwa.
An informed source told the Times Sports Desk that the decision to terminate the
two-year performance-based contract had been taken by the Management Committee
following the major setback in the EswatiniTelecom Charity Cup final at Somhlolo
National Stadium this past weekend where the ‘Weslians’ lost 3-1 to Mbabane
Highlanders.
call
“After a long call that lasted for close to an hour with Nhlengetfwa, Koki was
told to inform his technical bench to return to the club’s training and
continue drilling the team,” an informed source said.
The Management Committee (MC) met with the coach last night after he had
finished training the club.
MC Chairman Bongani ‘Bhanyaza’ Mdluli confirmed the meeting and asked to be
contacted later. “We are meeting the coach today (yesterday) and then I can
comment thereafter,” he said briefly.
Vilakati had also been drawn for comment and sounded surprised to learn that his
contract had been terminated.
The coach had been asked on his future football career plans after parting ways
with the maroon and white outfit. “Why would you want to know my career plans?
It sounds like you have news to tell me,” he said.
contract
After explaining to him that the question eminated from news that his contract
with Wanderers had been terminated, Vilakati then declined to comment and
directed all questions to the team’s MC chairman. “Contact the chairman, he
is the one in a better position to respond to your question,” said Vilakati.
The coach was further asked if he had encountered any challenges while executing
his duties as coach at Wanderers such as interference, and again insisted that
Mdluli was the right person to answer such questions.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sandile ‘Ntofo’ Dlamini said he could only
state that the media was invited to a press conference today at 8:30am and that
is when they would divulge new developments.