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4-YR DEAL FOR DOMINIC AT BUFFALOES

19/06/2024 10:12:00 Sanele Jele

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MBABANE – Home is where the heart is.

This adage holds true for erstwhile Sihlangu Coach Dominic Kunene, as he returned to his former stomping ground, Young Buffaloes. A few days ago, this publication exclusively reported that Kunene was set to rejoin his former team, which he coached for five years, before being appointed as the national team coach, Sihlangu in 2020.

Kunene’s tenure at Buffaloes dates back to 2015, and his success in the league was a precursor to his appointment as the men’s senior national team coach. He led the army side to a league title during the 2019/20 season, and prior to that, he guided them to victories in the Ingwenyama Cup (2018/19) and EswatiniBank Cup (2017/18). Before joining Buffaloes, he was Manzini Sundowns (now Denver) coach in the 2014/15 season.
Buffaloes Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sandile Gwebu confirmed this news, stating that Kunene will be leading the team. “We have awarded him a four-year contract and tasked him with winning the league and Ingwenyama Cup,” Gwebu said.

When asked why they decided to rehire Kunene, Gwebu attributed it to his impressive record in both national and club football. “His achievements speak volumes,” he added. Regarding the fate of current Head Coach Mandla ‘Stofu’ Dlamini, Gwebu revealed that Kunene would decide whether to work with the existing technical bench or bring in new personnel. Kunene welcomed the challenge, stating that Buffaloes was his true home. “This is home for me more than anything, and I am thrilled to be back at Buffaloes. My success will depend on the determination and work ethic of the players. Coaching is about working with all stakeholders involved,” Kunene said.

When asked about transitioning from national team coaching to club football, Kunene emphasised that he had learned a lot from his experience and would pass on his knowledge to the players. He also stated that he would assess the team’s strengths and weaknesses before deciding whether to make any changes. As for potential new signings, Kunene indicated that he would need to evaluate the team’s current roster before making any decisions. “Whenever necessary, we will make holistic decisions for the team’s betterment,” he added.

Kunene’s tenure at the national team has been marked by a mix of successes and challenges. He led Sihlangu to the semi-finals of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup, where they lost 3-2 to Senegal in 2021. In 2022, he guided them to the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but ultimately failed to win a single match against Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, and Togo.

However, on a positive note, Kunene managed to qualify Sihlangu for the group stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after defeating Somalia 5-2 on aggregate earlier this year.Kunene’s contract ended in March 31 but was engaged on interim basis until Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane was announced as the new head coach for Sihlangu.