Manzini sides duel for Dhlakama

Dhlakama went to Swaziland in November to join Manzini Sundowns but a furore is looming after reports this week indicated that he had joined rivals Manzini Wanderers.
The former Tanganda United player is currently rated the most qualified coach in the elite Swazi league – armed with a Uefa Pro Licence.
According to the Times of Swaziland, Dhlakama has replaced Mozambican coach, Mathews Mandlazi, who left Wanderers last week together with his deputy Farnie Terblanche.
Swazi-based football website, MTNFootball.com has gathered that Dhlakama, who had not signed a contract with Sundowns during the two months stay, put pen to paper at Wanderers on Tuesday.
He was expected to start his first training session at Wanderers on Wednesday and had already said farewell to the players at Sundowns.
As he joins Manzini Wanderers, Dhlakama, who is a former coach at relegated Premiership side Kiglon, is expected to work with Jerry Gamedze as his assistant and Zenzile Mpofu, who is the goalkeepers’ coach.
Dhlakama confirmed to the media in Swaziland that he had quit Sundowns and joined Wanderers but would release a statement later.
Manzini Wanderers take on Mbabane Swallows in an MTN League tie at Somhlolo Stadium tomorrow with Dhlakama set to take charge of the game.
Wanderers will be going into the game with their spirits low, following two consecutive defeats in the past two weeks, while Swallows are motivated by their win over Green Mamba last Sunday. However, Manzini Sundowns chairman Mark Carmichael maintains that Dhlakama was still their head coach.
“Dhlakama is still our coach. He trained the team this morning (Tuesday) and he will be taking the team through their paces again this evening (yesterday) so the impression is that he is still a Sundowns coach,” said the chairman.
“Our main philosophy at Sundowns is to concentrate on our academy and breed exceptional players who will be the future of the country’s football.
“We want to see our junior national teams doing well in the near future and Dhlakama is the man for the job as he has done the same with his native Zimbabwe junior national teams,” he said.
On the issue of Dhlakama coaching Sundowns without a contract, the chairman said it would be better if the coach commented on the issue himself.
Asked whether he was happy working at the club without a contract, Dhlakama said contractual issues were a private thing between employer and employee.