Mbofana goes on leave!

MBABANE – Mbabane Highlanders coach Philip Mbofana has in the height of the problems in the team, asked for a one month leave.

The Zimbabwean-born mentor communicated the decision to the team’s Management Committee (MC) Chairman Musa Masuku yesterday and the main reason was he feared for his life.
This follows Saturday’s incident at the Somhlolo National Stadium, where the team’s impatient supporters bayed for his blood after the club’s 0-2 loss to Royal Leopards.

The defeat was the fourth in seven games and has all but condemned the fallen giants to the bottom three of the log standing.
Commenting yesterday, Mbofana said he was forced by circumstances to take the decision.
“The supporters felt I was the problem and for my own safety, I felt it would be prudent to go on leave and let the dust settle,” he said.

The coach said he had not left the team, but was only requesting a break.
“Sometimes you have to take precautions, because when supporters behave the way they did on Saturday, one has to take prompt action,” he said.

The team MC chairman, Musa Masuku, who also doubles up as secretary to the directors, confirmed the matter, and said the team was still to meet to decide on what to do.

“He came to us with the request, and we cannot blame him when his main worry is his safety. While we condemn in the strongest terms the behaviour of the supporters, there is little we can do to guarantee his safety.  He asked to go for a month long leave and we will meet this evening (yesterday) to decide on the way forward because we would still need to pay his salary,” he said.

Masuku said the conduct by the supporters was very bad.
“Whenever we hire a coach we do it for the team. We are, therefore, surprised when supporters decide to attack a coach when there are laid down channels through which they can submit their grievances,” he said.

The obtaining scenario is likely to pave way for the return of former head coach Zonke Mawelela, who the supporters want to take charge of the club. He is currently occupying a lesser position of assistant coach.

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