Times Of Swaziland: ‘BIRDS’ FIRE TEMBO, SIYABONGA RETURNS ‘BIRDS’ FIRE TEMBO, SIYABONGA RETURNS ================================================================================ BY CHRIS DLAMINI on 01/04/2014 02:02:00 MBABANE – Believe it or not, this is no April Fool’s story but Mbabane Swallows yesterday parted ways with their Zambian coach, Christopher ‘Gazza’ Tembo – exactly 70 days after he joined them. The latest comes amid newspaper headlines by the coach that the club was tactically disorganised after they lost 2-1 to their sworn rivals Manzini Wanderers. Tembo arrived at Swallows on January 20 and lost his job on March 31. He was not at the team’s training yesterday, both in the morning and afternoon as captain and left winger Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze took charge. Tsabedze conducted the morning session with 10 players, including himself, in attendance. In the afternoon session, the club’s CEO Sibusiso Manana introduced their former assistant coach Siyabonga Bhembe to about nine players present. Bhembe was not long ago assistant coach to then coach Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe’s before he was axed by the club just before Tembo came on board ahead of the CAF Champions League game against Zambia’s Nkana. He conducted the afternoon session. Manana told journalists that Bhembe was back with the team but as a trainer. “He’s not returning as our head coach but a trainer. The team will announce a coach soonest as we must have one when we play our next game which is next week but we’ve already identified a few individuals for the job,” he said. He said they had to part ways with Tembo who they had not yet hired but was still in his assessment days when they amicably agreed to separate. “He had his own philosophy while we also have our own but clearly they clashed, hence this decision. We don’t owe him anything and wish him all the best as he is a very good coach but couldn’t understand our philosophy,” he said. He said Swallows were one of the most organised sides, he did not understand what the coach meant when he said they are disorganised. “Because things didn’t go according to his liking he saw disorganisation but we know disorganisation doesn’t exist in our team. He had wanted to instil changes yet the timing was wrong as it meant changing the playing staff but registration was closed,” he said. He said they were aware that the supporters wanted results which were what they are used to so to lose two consecutive games was strange for them. “We’re going through a rough patch which happens to the best teams in the world like Liverpool who have changed that this season. We know we are enemy number one to everyone but those who love us are happy but we’ve accepted that we’re the most hated team which makes us strong and unique,” he said. Meanwhile, Tembo when reached confirmed he had parted ways with the Mbabane giants and was due to leave for Zambia today. “In life once you are very defensive you never learn anything but I choose not to criticise them otherwise we have parted ways. I tried my best to bring in something but if you can’t beat them it’s best to leave them alone,” he said when asked to comment about the latest. He said perhaps another day he would return to the country to work for another team if an offer came through otherwise he wished Swallows all the best as he refused to say what exactly happening in the team. On the other hand, Bhembe said for him it was good to be back with Swallows after they had successful talks and Sea Birds allowed him to take the job. “I think it’s a mandate I must fulfil as I had not been sacked in the first place but given a break and know this means hard work for me as the team is competing for the league title,” he said. He said he expected no difficulty at all as he was not new in the team and besides, everyone is always involved at Swallows so it should be easy for him. Meanwhile, he trained a thin squad as four stars were with Sihlangu while others like Darren Christie, Talent Maphosa and Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko were all out with injuries.