Football

MBABANE – Can he reunite with his former boss Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize?

That is a high-profile who has made his name in South Africa.

According to an impeccable source, the coach is set to take over after Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala decided not to stay at ‘Bull’s kraal.

After the expiry of his short-term contract at Mbabane Highlanders, ‘Sly’ chose not to renew it and instead joined Moneni Pirates as head coach of their senior men’s team. Highlanders, in a press statement issued last Wednesday evening, said they will unveil the departed coach’s successor today.

However, as today is the day where the air is pregnant in expectations, the source alleged a possible reunion at this stage remains possible.

“He was a preferred candidate at the time Ernest Mavuso left in February, but he was contracted at that moment. As he then got fired by Magesi in that same month, he remained club-less heading into this period,” the source said.

That man is John Maduka, who according to the source might become ‘MaMkhize’s third coach after taking over the team in July 2025. According to South Africa’s Kick Off and Yahoo Sports, Maduka left Magesi FC on February 11, 2026, after the club terminated his coaching contract by mutual consent, citing a string of poor results and his absence from recent matches.

Magesi FC officially confirmed Maduka’s departure, stating that his contract had been ended with immediate effect. This came just two days after the club’s 2–0 league loss to Orlando Pirates in a Betway Premiership and a Nedbank Cup Round of 32 defeat to Upington City, in which Maduka was absent from the touchline. Before joining the now-relegated former Premiership side in November 2025, his last coaching role was with the South African businesswoman Royal Andile Mpisane’s Royal AM Football Club (FC). According to iDiski Times, the Malawian coach was appointed head coach of Royal AM at the start of the 2021/22 DStv Premiership season after Bloemfontein Celtic sold its status to the KwaZulu-Natal side.

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Former Royal AM Coach John Maduka is linked with Mbabane Highlanders. (Pics: Sowetan)