Home | Sports | Coach Sputla' resigns!

Coach Sputla' resigns!

Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font

MBABANE – Problems at Moneni Pirates took a turn for the worse when the team’s coach, Mlamula ‘Sputla’ Zwane also resigned yesterday.

Zwane handed in his resignation letter to the team’s Management Committee exactly one day after the supporters hatched a ploy to oust him from the team’s training session this afternoon.

In an interview, the coach confirmed his resignation, but refused to give details, saying he was not in a position to do so at the moment. However, he did point out that he hoped people within the team would come out to state the truth at some point, because there were more problems in the team than what had been relayed to the press.

He said he was sometimes left with the players on his own, even those that were injured.

"I was exposed to a very difficult situation, and it would have been hard to have the team perform under the circumstances. I strongly believe that there were people within the team who were out to drive their personal agendas at the expense of everyone, but it does not help to talk about such things now," he said.

Zwane said he felt unwanted as early as the start of the season, but he decided to continue because it was not everyone that had a problem with him. He pointed out that he knew the individuals that orchestrated his downfall.

Pirates’ Manager, Twoman Masuku, said he was disappointed with the forced resignation of the coach, pointing out that he felt ‘Sputla’ was a victim of a witch hunt. He advised the new coach to be careful not to experience the very same problems that forced ‘Sputla’ to leave the team.

"I feel the coach did not receive adequate support, hence there was no way he could have been successful under the circumstances. The situation has been totally unfair to him, and one wonders what will happen to the new coach, because I don’t think anything would have changed by the time he arrives," he said.

Masuku further urged the players not to take any sides in this matter, but support whosoever takes charge of the team. He said the most important thing now is for them to help the team survive relegation.

Pirates have lost five games in a row in the league. Their only win came when they beat Mhlambanyatsi Rovers 2-0 at the start of the season. Former head coach, Dumisa ‘Dodge’ Mahlalela as revealed by this newspaper two weeks ago, is being touted to take over the coaching reins at the Moneni ‘Buccaneers’.

Post your comment comment

Please enter the code you see in the image: