SA coaches headline Eswatini league grand opening

MBABANE – All eyes will be on three South African tacticians as the MTN Premier League kicks off today.

Two South African coaches with strong PSL backgrounds will collide when defending league champions begin their defence journey against Moneni Pirates. Stakes have been raised high with champions guaranteed a lucrative E1 185 000 this season.

The match is slated for 4:15pm at Somhlolo National Stadium today on September 19. Mandla Qhogi secured three titles for Nsingizini last season. Nsingizini were recently eliminated by Scottland in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League by a 1-0 aggregate. He meets former Mbabane Highlanders AM coach Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala who has already recorded the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup title to his achievements having joined Sea Robbers this season. These two have previously met with Qhogi standing tall.

Nsingizini tactician Mandla Qhogi.

Mosala went head-to-head in the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup final against Floyd ‘Mourinho’ Mogale of Highlanders AM and another SA coach. The final at Mavuso Sports Centre on Sunday September 6 brought together two tacticians who have built their reputations in South African football before taking their coaching careers across the border to Eswatini.

Mogale is set to battle against Green Mamba in the first game of this double header match slated for 2pm. Inyok’eluhlazane are fresh from exiting the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round after a 4-0 deficit to CD Primeiro de Agosto.

Mbabane Highlanders AM coach Floyd ‘Mourinho’ Mogale.

Mosala who guided Moneni Pirates to the trophy has worked in the South African professional game with Premier Soccer League PSL clubs including Sekhukhune United and Casric FC and University of Pretoria and Black Leopards. Mogale meanwhile arrived at Mbabane Highlanders AM after an extensive career in South African football including work with Mamelodi Sundowns where he served as a scout as well as coaching spells with Black Leopards and Royal AM. He also worked as an assistant at Chippa United and Free State Stars. Elsewhere Qhogi’s success is built on the foundations of an 18-year tenure at the Soweto giants Orlando Pirates where he honed his craft by nurturing elite talents like Lyle Foster and Zakhele Lepasa and Relebohile Mofokeng. He brought that professional pedigree to Eswatini following stints with Sekhukhune United and Milford.

Moneni Pirates gaffer Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala. (Pics:Nimrod Hlophe/Times of Eswatini)

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