SOCCER – The race for the vacant senior national team, Sihlangu Semnikati head coach position is intensifying, with several experienced tacticians having submitted their curriculum vitae (CVs) ahead of the application deadline.
Information gathered from sources within the football fraternity indicates that former Sihlangu coaches Croatian Zdravko Logarusic, Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga and Anthony Mdluli are among those who have applied for the post.
They are joined by current Mbabane Highlanders AM FC head coach Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala, who also officially entered the race before the closing deadline on Thursday.
The inclusion of a mix of local and international experience has set the stage for what is expected to be a highly competitive selection process as the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) looks to appoint a candidate capable of taking the national team to the next level.
Mosala’s application adds further intrigue to the process. The South African-born tactician has earned praise since taking charge of Mbabane Highlanders AM FC, where he has been credited with restoring stability and competitiveness to the capital city giants following the departure of coach Ernest Mavuso. His return to the club followed a brief spell in South Africa with DStv Premiership side Chippa United, where he was part of the technical setup.
A CAF A Licence holder, Mosala has built a solid coaching profile over the years. He previously guided Highlanders AM FC to an impressive 2021/22 campaign, finishing runners-up in the MTN Premier League and securing qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup.
His résumé also includes working as assistant coach to Luc Eymael at Free State Stars during the 2017/18 season, a campaign in which the club lifted the Nedbank Cup. More recently, Mosala was part of the technical team at Marumo Gallants, contributing to their remarkable run to the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals in the 2022/23 season.
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Meanwhile, the return of former national team mentors Logarusic, Bulunga and Mdluli into the conversation highlights the level of interest in the job. Their familiarity with the local football landscape and prior experience with the national team setup could prove to be key considerations in the final decision.
Bulunga came agonisingly close to qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and guided the side to the COSAFA Cup semi-finals in 2016 – a period that also saw Sihlangu climb to their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 88th.
Logarusic is the latest foreign coach to have been in charge of the national team Sihlangu.
EFA Marketing and Communications Manager Muzi Radebe confirmed that the recruitment process was ongoing, but declined to reveal the full list of applicants.
“The process is ongoing and we are handling it professionally like any other organisation,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Mosala were unsuccessful at the time of publication as his phone rang unanswered.
The EFA is expected to announce the new Sihlangu head coach before the upcoming Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup, which is likely to be held in South Africa. The tournament is seen as an important platform for the national team to test itself against regional opposition.
According to the EFA advert, the successful candidate will be expected to improve Eswatini’s FIFA ranking into the top 100, while also strengthening collaboration with club coaches both locally and internationally.
The aim is to ensure a consistent pipeline of talent into the national team, as Sihlangu seeks to become more competitive on the continental stage.
The deadline for applications was last Friday, with the successful candidate expected to take charge for the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup next month.
Only 10 of the 21 coaches who earned their CAF A Licence a decade ago have remained active with clubs.
The full list of locally qualified candidates (CAF A Licence holders active with clubs over the past decade):
- Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane
- Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga
- Dominic Kunene
- Musa Manyatsi
- Edwin Matsebula
- Caleb Ngwenya
- Friday ‘Paras’ Myeni
- Anthony Mdluli
- Dumsani ‘DU’ Makhanya
- Nokuthula Dlamini
