adminNoel Munzabwa, in Piggs Peak, Swaziland
IF there’s anything now certain about former Highlanders and Warriors winger, Madinda Ndlovu, it is his burning desire to coach in Swaziland, if reports within the media are anything to go by.
After failing to reach an agreement over his asking fee with MTN Premier League of Swaziland outfits, Manzini Sundowns, Manzini Wanderers, Mbabane Highlanders and Mbabane Swallows with whom he has been in contact with for the last five years, Sunday News can exclusively reveal he has taken a crack at the vacant Swaziland national team job.
Four days after the National Football Association of Swaziland president Adam Bomber Mthethwa confirmed they would not be renewing Harries Madze Bulunga’s contract, in a move that stalked anger among soccer fans spilling into the legislative high house, it has emerged Ndlovu is one of the applicants to fill the job.
The Swazi FA reportedly advertised the Sihlangu job after it emerged that Madze struggled against Category A and B nations despite settling for bronze at the Cosafa tournament — their best ever international achievement, in his 37 matches in charge.
British born South Africa-based coach Mark Harrison, Ndlovu and Malawian Young Chimodzi are among the early birds that hope to catch the fattest worm for the vacant Sihlangu head coach position.
Yesterday, Ndlovu confirmed submitting his application through his unnamed agent.
“Actually my agent said to me that now it was time to try national teams as part of growth after a lengthy stint with clubs. So we agreed that he submits the application for the Swaziland job,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu made history in Botswana when he became the only coach to win three back to back league titles, the third time was with a different club.
Arguably, this was his finest stint in his coaching career which now spans over two decades.
Ndlovu now at Orapa FC, led Township Rollers to the league title in 2013/14, while his first two league titles were with Mochudi Centre Chiefs, a team he left for the Blues at the end of the 2012/13 season.
He holds several coaching badges from Germany and holds the Caf highest license A Licence which he acquired in Harare in 2015.
The other applicant is former Caps United coach Harrison, who boasts of an impressive CV, armed with both the Uefa licence A and is also a Caf A licence holder. He is competing with former Malawi assistant coach Young Chimondzi.
Chimodzi was part of the The Flames technical bench that faced Sihlangu during the recently ended 2017 Afcon qualifiers.
The three are among the candidates that have forwarded their CV’s to the national mother body together with former South Africa National Under-23 coach Sudeeh Singh ahead of the deadline which is next week Friday.
From Swaziland, the experienced duo of Zenzele “Ace” Dlamini and Thabo “‘Koki” Vilakati have both expressed their desire to lead the national team during interviews aired on national television earlier this week. FA’s Marketing and Communications Manager Muzi Radebe could not agree nor deny the matter when quizzed yesterday.
“I haven’t gone through the applications as of yet, but I can reveal that coaches are still allowed to apply until the stipulated deadline,’’ he said.
Previous international coaches include suspended Bafana Bafana mentor Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, German Werner Bickenlhaupt, Raoul Savroy, Jan Van Winkel and Valiere Billen, among others. — Additional reporting, Swazi Observer
@NoelMunzabwa
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