MBABANE – A year after parting ways with Croatian gaffer Zdravko ‘Loga’ Logarusic, the EFA is yet to fill the senior national team head coaching vacancy.
The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) announced in September last year that they had severed ties with Logarusic ahead of two crucial International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup qualifiers against Angola and Cape Verde.
Despite the Croatian having two months remaining on his contract, both parties reached a mutual agreement to terminate the deal prematurely.
The EFA Executive Committee subsequently appointed Logarusic’s assistant, Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane, on an interim basis for the home fixture against Angola at Somhlolo National Stadium and the away clash in Cape Verde.
Ntibane, assisted by Ernest Mavuso, saw his short-term mandate expire on May 31, 2026, following a disappointing defeat to then-unranked Eritrea in the 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations preliminary qualifiers.
Sihlangu lost 4-1 on aggregate and were eliminated before reaching the group stage.
The year-long void at the helm has seen the football governing body save over E700 000 in technical bench expenditure. Logarusic was earning E60 000 per month during his tenure as Sihlangu head coach.
A source close to the Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane-led organisation noted that while the delay remains a concern, it has proven to be a financial windfall given the national team’s current inactivity.
“It is indeed a blessing in disguise, as the EFA has saved around E720 000 in salary costs for the head coach position alone over the past 12 months,” the source said.
Operating without a permanent head coach for an extended period is not unprecedented in world football. Following Tite’s departure after the 2022 FIFA World Cup, five-time world champions Brazil went over a full year without a permanent manager.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) relied on interim caretakers Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz before appointing Dorival Júnior in January 2024, saving an estimated E45 million to E63 million (approx. US$2.5 million to US$3.5 million) in net technical bench expenditure during their 13-month void.
Meanwhile, the EFA has targeted the end of September to unveil a new senior national team coach as part of broader plans to revive the country’s international fortunes.
EFA President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane confirmed the deadline during the association’s Ordinary General Assembly at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane on Sunday.
“We intend to appoint a new senior national team coach by the end of September,” Simelane said.
The upcoming appointment forms part of the EFA’s strategy to restructure the senior squad while placing greater emphasis on the development and international exposure of junior national teams.
Simelane added that regular competition against stronger opposition remains essential for long-term player development.
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