MBABANE – Former Eswatini senior men’s national Team Manager Josiah ‘Digger’ Dlamini believes South Africa’s top coaches will have a positive influence on the kingdom’s football.
Dlamini was reacting after Mbabane Highlanders unveiled another highly-rated South African coach as the club’s new gaffer ahead of the upcoming season.
Yesterday, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Floyd ‘Mourinho’ Mogale was announced as the successor to his countryman Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala. Mogale is former Mamelodi Sundowns chief scout. Mosala had joined the capital city giants in February this year but did not commit to staying once his short-term contract expired at the end of the past season.
Another South African already making an impact is former Orlando Pirates DDC Coach Mandla Qhogi, who delivered a treble in his debut season.
‘Digger’, who managed Sihlangu Seminkati around 2012, has applauded local clubs for recruiting coaches from countries with a stronger standing as per the FIFA Men’s rankings. South Africa’s national team are currently ranked 54th globally.
“Not to say local coaches are not good, but these foreign coaches often bring that slight extra edge,” he said. “It’s a global trend that the highest-performing clubs and national teams do not always rely solely on local talent.”
Dlamini cited the English Premier League (EPL) as a classic example, where clubs such as Manchester City have won multiple trophies under foreign coaches.
The technical director of Atibuye Emasisweni Football Foundation added that imported coaches tend to influence team performance in the same way imported players do.
“For example, Highlanders have won many trophies, most of them achieved under coaches from outside the country. The likes of Scara Sibanyoni had roots in South Africa, and there was another successful era when the team was coached by someone from Lesotho,” he said.
The Sihlangu legend noted that these coaches usually bring a different attitude to their duties. They show no favouritism or preferences towards players or team directors, which help teams, win trophies. He said they are professionals with possess strong practical expertise, not just theoretical knowledge.
He pointed to Hugo Broos’s work with Bafana Bafana as an example. ‘Digger’ believes Broos was able to identify players with potential even when his selections were questioned. One such case was Orlando Pirates striker Evidence Makgoba, who had limited game time but was selected despite starting off the bench as he said the coach knew that he was nursing an injury. He said Makgoba later became a key forward for Bafana Bafana at the FIFA World Cup.
Going into the new season, South African coaches set to take charge of Eswatini teams are:
- Floyd ‘Mourinho’ Mogale at Mbabane Highlanders
- Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala at Moneni Pirates
- Mandla Qhogi at Nsingizini Hotspurs
- Humphrey Mlwane -Tabankulu Celtics
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