Times Of Swaziland: ENNIN ‘UNTOUCHABLE’!

ENNIN ‘UNTOUCHABLE’!
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BY CHRIS DLAMINI on 05/01/2022 08:42:00


MBABANE – It would appear he has the backing of his employer, the club
President Archbishop Bheki Lukhele.
That is once again under fire Mbabane Swallows coach, Christopher Ennin. The
Ghanaian mentor, who joined the capital giants last season, has hardly enjoyed
his term as from his first spell, the fans and officials wanted him sacked but
Lukhele stood by him. He was given another chance to lead the club even this
season and allowed to bring in his own signings but results have not been
impressive for a team that remains the only ranked side in Africa from Eswatini.
The ranking from their 2017/18 and 2018/19 exploits in the Confederation of
African Football (CAF) brought all this pressure on Ennin as when he took over,
the mandate did not change, he was expected to lead Swallows back the CAF
Champions League as he has the same task even now amid the poor results that see
them perched on position eight with 13 points to 22 for leaders Royal Leopard
after nine matches.
After consecutive defeats to minnows Tambankulu Callies and rookies Rangers in
the past week, Ennin is wanted out again by the supporters who bayed for his
blood after the unbelievable 2-1 loss last Saturday. Callies beat them 4-2 in
midweek. It was established that in reaction to the latest Ennin axe demand, the
club’s president is said to have involved the President of the team’s
elders, Absalom Ngwenya, to talk to the players, technical bench and management
committee (MC) yesterday.
As much Ngwenya met with the club, some officials are reportedly not so content
and awaited the press statement as their expectations were that Ennin does not
continue as the club’s coach. However, their expectations were based on a thin
line as Lukhele is alleged to have drawn the line by stating it that he still
believed in the coach and if Ennin left, then that would be his goodbye too as
their leader. This was affirmed by a couple of people very close to the club.
The red and white Umkhonto KaShaka’a Marketing and Communications Officer,
Manqoba Mabuza, had said on Monday morning on national radio, EBIS that they
would make statements whenever any decisions were made. He made it known that
only Lukhele as club president could fire the coach and not the supporters or
management.
Meeting
“Ngwenya came and first met with the players who opened up freely and all
coaches were present but Ennin did not wait until the end as he left before the
coaches also had their meeting with the elder where they also spoke freely as we
tried to establish what the real problem was. Ennin also felt he was unsafe at
the training ground but how is he going to drill the team this week then?”
said an impeccable source within the club’s management. The source said that
the players made it clear that their concerns were more on the head coach who
they blamed for having divided the squad. “They told Ngwenya that they could
not attain sound results always when the head coach was dividing them as they
had said he was softer with the foreign players and very strict with the locals.
They also cited gossiping between some players and the coach as one other thing
that destroyed them as a club,” said one of the officials.
A couple of players who were sought to share information on the meeting that
took place yesterday afternoon in Ezulwini inside Lukhele’s church compound
where the team trains, declined to commit themselves. “Its best we let the
elders issue out their statement as they promised to report back to the
President then take it from there. We are players and ours is to play. We just
want to be motivated and trusted,” said one of the players.
Ngwenya did not deny the meeting with the players but would not dwell into the
contents of what was discussed. “We will issue a press statement between
tomorrow (today) and Thursday (tomorrow). We will by all means inform the public
what is happening,” Ngwenya said. Ngwenya responded in front of the club’s
General Manager Sandile ‘Beyond 2 000’ Zwane who also wondered how this
publication had gotten the news so fast but referred all queries to the elder.