BY MACHAWE FAKUDZE AND NIMROD HLOPHE
MBABANE — Capital city giants Mbabane Highlanders AM, have allegedly made contact with a top South African candidate as they hunt for a new head coach.
According to a well-placed source within the ‘Black Bull’ camp, the club moved swiftly following the sudden resignation of South African tactician Floyd ‘Mourinho’ Mogale on Monday. As of early yesterday, only two names were reportedly on the shortlist to take over the vacant hot seat, the other being a local coach.
The source said that the black, gold and white outfit have opened talks with the South African gaffer to steady a ship that has suffered two defeats, a single draw and a win in their opening four MTN Premier League matches. “The club has reached out to Phuti Mohafe, who made a name for himself at Polokwane City. He is one of the targets being pursued, alongside a local coach,” the source alleged.
Mohafe, a former Witbank Spurs defender, has established himself as one of South Africa’s rising coaching talents after turning ‘Rise and Shine’, as Polokwane City are widely known, into solid top-eight finishers over recent seasons.
However, the 52-year-old was relieved of his duties at Marumo Gallants this season, barely a month into his tenure after joining them during pre-season. According to Soccer Betting News, Mohafe was given the boot just five games into the campaign after failing to secure a win.
Speaking to FARPost following his departure, Mohafe revealed that he was already weighing up options for his next move.“I am currently waiting on the sidelines and reaching out to potential suitors. I hope not to stay unemployed for too long,” he was quoted as saying.
“I have no regrets about leaving Polokwane City. It was a calculated risk that unfortunately did not yield the expected results. Naturally, I hoped for a longer stint, but football can be unforgiving.
“When you compare the team’s setup now to last season, there is notable progress. I feel the plug was pulled too soon because they wanted immediate results,” Mohafe added.
Before his brief stint with Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, Mohafe previously served as a Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) assistant and caretaker boss before enjoying a successful three-year spell at Polokwane City.
onfirmed local reports that current Manzini Wanderers Head Coach Musa Manyatsi, who previously had stints with Mbabane Swallows and Ezulwini United, is the local frontrunner for the job. Musa recently re-joined the ‘Weslians’ ahead of the new campaign and pledged his loyalty even after the hub giants suffered relegation to the lower tier.
It was further gathered that assistant Coach Thembela Dlamini is expected to hold the fort in the interim while management hunts for Mogale’s successor. Dlamini’s first game will be against Pigg’s Peak Professionals on Sunday at Somhlolo National Stadium. Mogale had only joined the club in July.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, Highlanders AM confirmed that further announcements regarding the technical team will be made in due course. Club Public Relations Officer (PRO) Thabiso ‘Touch’ Manyatsi could not be reached for comment when contacted at around 4pm yesterday.
Under current Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) rules, a club that parts ways with its head coach mid-season is granted a grace period of four matches or 28 days to appoint a replacement. “However, during the grace period, the club must appoint an acting coach who holds valid Eswatini Football Association (EFA) coaching qualifications. The interim application must follow the same formal procedures as that of a head coach,” the regulations state.
It is worth noting that replacing a head coach mid-season is always a high-stakes gamble, but for a club with the pedigree and pressure of Highlanders AM, the next appointment is crucial.
The incoming boss will need to hit the ground running if the ‘Black Bull’ are to mount a serious title challenge this season after narrowly missing out in the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup 2026, where they finished as runners-up.
Mohafe is set to become the third straight foreign coach for Highlanders. Before Mogale’s brief stint, the capital city giants had hired Selatse ‘Sly’ Mosala, who left to join Moneni Pirates. Meanwhile, Nsingizini Hotspurs are one of the Eswatini teams that believe in foreign coaches. Closer to home, Orlando Pirates are using foreign coaches of late.
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