MANDA, JULIUS JOIN ’DOWNS

MBABANE – Manzini Sundowns have finally found their man. Former Mbabane Highlanders assistant coach Charles Manda is back in the country to assume the vacant hot seat at ambitious Premier League side Manzini Sundowns.

The coach, who assisted Meck Mwase at Highlanders about two seasons ago, arrived two days ago and will get down to business upon verification of his paperwork at the  Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Technical Director’s office.

screened

Foreign coaches’ papers are first screened by the country’s football mother body. A  Premier League coach must have a minimum CAF A Licence.
Sundowns Chairman Mark Carmichael confirmed the plans to bring Manda on board, but highlighted that there were few loose ends that needed to be tied up first.
“We’re at the preliminary stage of recruiting the coach.

“The coach is already in the country, but we’ll make a decision once everything is in place,” he said. Manda recently led Malawi TNM Su­per League top side Nchalo United, but had a rocky relationship with that outfit. While in Eswatini he went back home, he also coached Manzini Wanderers.

replaces

Meanwhile, former Wanderers coach Julius Chakupewa is also reportedly on his way to the ‘Kappa Boys’, but he will head development.
He replaces long-serving Penuel Malinga, who jumped ship last month.  Carmichael could only confirm that the team was casting its nest wide to boost the academy, but did not give finer details.

“As our development products are shining in the country and beyond, there is a need to strengthen our academy.
‘‘We have identified a Zimbabwean coach who can assist in this sector,” said Carmichael.

Sundowns, who are currently under the tutelage of retired player Mduduzi ‘Nyama’ Shongwe, are without a head coach following the departure of Zimbabwe-born Darlington Dodo, who left before the start of the current campaign to attend to pressing family issues.

exodus

Asked on the massive coaches turnover at the ‘Kappa Boys’, Carmichael stressed that Sundowns were not to blame for the exodus.
“Expectations are high, so some of the departed coaches have succumbed to the pressure.

“As chairman, I don’t interfere with the coaches’ job. Some just quit when they fail to produce results. We do provide them with talent to compete, as we produce quality players each season who join big teams in the country and beyond its borders,” said Carmichael.
 On average, Sundowns change coaches at least three times per season. In the past five years, they have paraded over 10 coaches who include Ernest Mavuso, Mlamuli ‘Sputla’ Zwane, Darlington Dodo,  Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini, and Rodwell Dhlakama, to mention but a few.

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