MBABANE – Ambitious MTN Premier League rookies Nsingizini Hotspurs have given their new head Coach Meck Mwase a clear mandate, with seven remaining league games.
Hotspurs Finance Director and Chairman of the Management Committee (MC), Mthokozisi Ngobe, gave the ‘new sheriff in town’ a top four finish target. The Malawian-born coach was given these orders during his unveiling at Equinox Restaurant in Mbabane yesterday morning. Currently, the team is on the fifth spot, five points away from Mbabane Highlanders, who are fourth.
“Although there are seven games to go, as a team, we have standards and targets for the season, which still stand. We wish to finish in the top four and if there’s another tournament that will be played for this season, we’ll also target to win it or at least reach quarter- finals,” said Ngobe. Mwase joined the team on a two-year contract that was effective on Tuesday. He joined the high earning coaches in the country as his salary is believed to be not less than E15 000, at least according to impeccable sources.
Experience
It was said his local and international experience earned him the hot seat against unnamed local and international coaches, who were shortlisted for the post. Mwase has taken the Malawian National team to a historic finish of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) played in January to the Last 16. He has also coached Mbabane Highlanders during the 2016/2017 season and narrowly missed out on winning the league.
The chairman further mentioned that Mwase would find a balanced team and they had no doubt that he would prosper, as he would also have some back-up. He also thanked the input by the former coach Gerald Phiri, especially in the first round where the team also occupied the top four bracket and managed to win the 2022 MoMo Cup at the beginning of the season.
“There came a time to review the games played especially from December. We found that we played nine games whereby we won a single match, drew three and lost the rest. These numbers showed no progression in the team and that is when we decided to improve the results, which then led us to mutually part ways with Phiri,” Ngobe said.
Meanwhile, Mwase appreciated the opportunity given to him and promised to do his best for the team. “I don’t have much to say but I’m happy to be back in Eswatini with a new team. Thank you so much for welcoming me; I’m here to work for you,” he said briefly.
