The Sunday News
Noel Munzabwa
IT certainly looks like the Mbabane football circle has gone abuzz since the day Wilson Mutekede’s seemingly rich curriculum vitae filtered through the Swaziland capital linking him with an almost done move to MTN National First Division outfit Mbabane Citizens.
The former Gunners and Highfields coach was to leave for Christmas holidays almost certain he would join the side in the New Year but on Thursday the whole puzzle changed with a script almost completing a move to take over at ailing Swazi giants, Mbabane Highlanders.
According to his king maker handler, Dingane Maduna, Mutekede sneaked back into Swaziland on Thursday night to complete the Mbabane Highlanders deal just when fresh speculation was linking him with a Caps United team manager’s job.
This was after Maduna had spent the day in a marathon meeting with Mbabane Highlanders elders thrashing out a contract which was due to be signed by Mutekede upon arrival.
Maduna confirmed Mutekede will be Meck Mwase’s replacement at the most successful Swazi football giants staring a titanic oceanic sink after hitting turbulence early this season which saw the general manager, Bheki Rubber Simelane resign.
“Wilson Mutekede is on his way to Mbabane Highlanders to take over as coach replacing Mwase. This was after Citizens failed to come back to us as promised. Mutekede’s immediately impressed Highlanders who couldn’t even afford to blink because of the fear they would lose out,” said Maduna.
Mutekede downplayed the deal though confirming he was headed for Mbabane when contacted on Thursday.
“I am in South Africa heading to Swaziland but I am still in the dark as I have also heard it through rumours,” said Mutekede.
This correspondent has it on good authority that Lizwe Sweswe, Philani Ncube, new Chapungu coach Tendai Chikuni and Mandla Mpofu were part of the five coaches shortlisted for the job with some of them falling out of favour due to the high asking figures.
There has been a raft of coaching changes in Swazi football with Green Mamba Zimbabwe born Hebert Maruwa losing his job to for Sihlangu head coach Harries Madze Bulunga this week.
@NoelMunzabwa
