Football

MBABANE – It is now official.

Green Mamba FC are now without a coach, while Mbabane Highlanders FC have secured the services of award-winning gaffer Ernest Mavuso. Mavuso has reportedly found a new home at the ‘Black Bull’, signing a two-year contract, where he is expected to earn close to E20 000 per month. A source close to Mavuso revealed that he decided to leave Green Mamba for Highlanders because the latter offered to double his salary.

He was reportedly earning E9 000 at Green Mamba, and negotiations for a raise only resulted in an small increment. When Highlanders approached him with an offer to double Green Mamba’s proposed amount, he accepted. This reported improved offer of about E18 000 per month, multiplied by 12 months, amounts to E216 000 per year. Over his two-year contract, this totals E432 000, which is close to half a million Emalangeni.

When contacted for comment, Mavuso stated that he had no existing contract with Green Mamba, which is why he felt free to leave. It was established that he had given Green Mamba three weeks to improve the offer, but they did not meet his expectations. Mavuso is replacing Malawian gaffer Meck Mwase, who has joined Moneni Pirates.

The coach is currently in South Africa, training the team at President Shauwn Mkhize’s premises in Pietermaritzburg. The 38-member delegation, comprising 34 players and four officials, is expected to return to Eswatini on August 20, seven days before the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup kicks off.

Interestingly, Mavuso previously won the Trade Fair Cup with Green Mamba during the 2023/24 season. He also led Green Mamba to victory in the MTN Premier League in the 2022/23 season and won the Ingwenyama Cup in 2023/24.

Green Mamba found themselves in an unexpected predicament, needing to find a new coach with barely two days remaining before the CAF Club Licensing deadline. This deadline is crucial for clubs wishing to participate in CAF (Confederation of African Football) inter-club competitions like the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. To obtain a CAF Club Licence, teams must satisfy a range of rigorous criteria across various key areas, including sporting aspects like youth development and player welfare, robust infrastructure such as suitable stadiums and training facilities, well-organised personnel and administrative structures with qualified staff, adherence to legal frameworks concerning club ownership and player contracts, and sound financial management demonstrated through audited statements and budget transparency. All clubs wishing to participate in CAF competitions must apply for a licence through the CAF Club Licensing Online Platform (CLOP) to their respective national football associations, which act as the licensors; failure to meet the mandatory ‘A’ criteria can result in a club not being granted a licence, preventing their participation in continental competitions.

Sources close to the matter indicate that Mavuso’s departure caught Green Mamba off guard. “We believed he would commit to us because he had submitted a wish list of players he wanted, and we had granted his requests. The next thing we knew was reading in the newspapers that he had signed a two-year contract elsewhere,” said a source. The three players Mavuso had requested to sign were Ezulwini United striker Bhekani Mthembu, Illovo’s Mphumuzo Sangweni and Moneni Pirates’ Lindani ‘Rio’ Matsenjwa.

The source further expressed concern about the fate of these new players who were signed based on the recommendations of a coach who suddenly left. “It is truly worrying, and we hope the new coach we hire will ensure these players are accommodated. We also hope that Assistant Coach Sandile Lulane will oversee the team and ensure they are well prepared for the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup.”

Green Mamba Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mandla Sibiya confirmed the coach’s departure. “He has left the team, and we have accepted it. It was a surprise for us, as we had spent a lot of time with the coach, and he could have given us a reason if he was not interested in staying. It’s unfair to us, as we now have only two days to replace him before Friday’s deadline for CAF Club Licensing submissions.”

Sibiya wished Mavuso well. “He has won three trophies with us, and we are grateful for what he has done for the team. He has developed the players technically, mentally and physically. They are now much improved, close to a finished product.”

When asked about the players signed at Mavuso’s recommendation, Sibiya stated that Lulane also contributed to the decision to sign the three players. Therefore, Mavuso’s departure would not materially affect their plans for those players, as they are still needed.

Meanwhile, Highlanders patron Ace Jele confirmed Mavuso’s return to Highlanders. “This is the coach who left the team when it was doing well; he was unnecessarily released. We felt that he was the right man for the job. He is a qualified coach and has won many trophies with different clubs.”

Mbabane Highlanders have secured the services of Coach Ernest Mavuso. (File pic)