DE JONGH’S ONE GAME, E700 000 BOUNTY!

MBABANE – Some people are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.

This famous quote by William Shakespeare holds true for national team Sihlangu coach, Pieter De Jongh, who is set to rake in close to E700 000 in salaries for just one official match in the remaining seven months of his one-year contract.

Following the embarrassing exit from the African Nations Championships (CHAN) 2018 Qualifiers last Saturday in Zambia, the coach will not be involved in any competition until March 27, 2018 when Sihlangu host Tunisia in the first leg and second match of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 Qualifiers.

This, in essence, means from this month, De Jongh will earn his salary without much activity or official match for the national team. Interestingly, the AFCON Qualifiers are two-legged games and Sihlangu will play Niger at home after being away in the first match and also play Egypt after Tunisia.

However, the under fire coach’s contract expires four days after the Tunisia game.
“I have (a) contract with FA and I respect my contract which expires on April 1, 2018,” De Jongh was quoted as saying when he was questioned by Zambian journalists in his post-match comments after Sihlangu lost 3-0 and 7-0 on aggregate to Zambia’s Chipolopolo.

While on break, Sihlangu can only play friendly matches during the FIFA week and there is no guarantee his employers, the FA, will organise the friendly games for the team.

Had Sihlangu progressed against Zambia, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana would have been the next opponents next month in which the winner would then qualify to play the CHAN finals to be hosted by Kenya in January. Sources at the NFAS said the coach is paid a salary of close to E100 000 monthly (US$7 500).

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: