Times Of Swaziland: ALLY EYES DAN MALESELA FOR ‘BULL’

ALLY EYES DAN MALESELA FOR ‘BULL’
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BY CHRIS DLAMINI on 08/04/2021 07:54:00


EZULWINI - It would be a homecoming for axed Chippa United head coach Dan
Malesela at Mbabane Highlanders.
Just after losing his job over the Easter weekend following a humiliating 5-1
loss to Maritzburg United, the Chilli Boys owner, Sipho ‘ Chippa’ Mpengesi,
pulled the trigger on him in his fifth full-time stint as their coach.
He has already been replaced by his assistant on an interim basis while a
Belgian coach Luc Eymael, has been roped in as Technical Advisor and is no
stranger to South African football. He worked for Free State Stars, Polokwane
and Black Leopards before. Interestingly, this is the same position Malesela
stands to be offered by the country’s most successful side that struggled
against elite rookies Tinyosi and minnows Milling Hot Spurs last Friday and this
past Tuesday respectively.
They came from behind to draw 2-all with Tinyosi and needed a penalty to beat
Milling 1-0. This was all before the club’s South African director Chief Ally
Kgomongwe, who has arguably the most expensively assembled squad this season,
despite Thamsanqa Sangweni’s departure to Chippa United. “What he made clear
is that he will boost the technical bench as he felt it necessary. From the way
he sounded, no one will lose their job, but Shakes Mashaba is likely to join
us,” said impeccable sources who were questioned about the long meetings last
Friday and the one held in Ezulwini the next day.
Contract
Kgomongwe, who had already come here, expected to clear the air if he was
leaving or not as director in only his second of a five-year contract, met with
the players then the technical bench and other officials of the team. He went on
to meet the two coaches being Dumsani ‘DU’ Makhanya (head coach) and
Siyabonga Bhembe (assistant and trainer) alongside the team’s National
Supporters Committee (NSC) in Ezulwini at Mdzimba View.
“That’s where he made it so clear, even to the coaches that he was concerned
and was going to hire a technical director, which is a good move and they also
agreed,” said one of the officials, on condition of anonymity, while adding
that former national team Sihlangu coach, Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba was
earmarked, but Malesela had not lost his job at the time.
Kgomongwe was sought and asked about the technical bench meeting and if he was
considering replacing Makhanya. “I met my coaches yes, and I will be talking
to Dan to come and help us as technical director. We can do with a little more
experience in the technical bench,” he said. He noted that they needed to be
more ruthless given their quality hence he was bringing in a third coach.