‘Ace-dic’ fight at Callies, coaches suspended
The source said while the assistant coach was busy with his drills, the coach arrived and whistled to signal that he wanted the players to pay attention to him. This is said not to have gone down with Mahlalela. It is said that the coaches exchanged heated words towards each other and had to be separated before it got physical.
“Usually the assistant coach drills the players before the head coach arrives and hand over the programme, but on that Monday, while the assistant was busy with the boys, the coach arrived and without uttering any words whistled for the players, that is where it all started,” the source explained.
The source also said it was not clear whether the coaches were fired or not as they were supposed to be hauled before the team’s disciplinary committee (DC) to answer for their misconduct before the players.
“I saw the assistant coach drilling the boys on Thursday, but what I heard is that Ace may have been fired, but please confirm this with the management,” the source said.
Meanwhile, BoBhejane Director Sithembiso ‘Ngudze’ Mamba confirmed the incident and said the duo was expected to appear before the DC to answer for their misconduct and the poor performance of the team as they had failed to meet the goal that they were given.
“I have been patient with them as they failed to improve the position of the team on the log, but fighting in front of the players is another thing, which we cannot tolerate from senior coaches like them,” Mamba said.
He said the mentors needed to correct what they did and he highlighted that for now the coaches were suspended pending their appearance before the DC. Mamba further said that in the meantime, former player and skipper Mkhize Hlatjwako would keep the fire burning. Callies are plunged deep in relegation trouble but have eight games to try and survive. Mamba further said that he also reported the matter to the Eswatini Football Coaches Association (EFCA) to make them aware of the situation of the coaches. EFCA Secretary General (SG) Musa Mamba confirmed receiving a call from ‘Ngudze’, who informed him that the two coaches had a confrontation, but advised him to formally write a letter for proper reference, should he be questioned by the other members
on the matter.
When asked if this would not come with negative impact on the players, Mamba was quick to say that his players were soldiers who were not new to this situation. He said they once beat Mbabane Swallows, Green Mamba and Royal Leopard without a coach. Callies under the leadership of the duo are currently sitting perilously on position 13 with the same number of points in 18 games and this is not the reflection of the side, which punched above their weights last season as they finished on position five above seasoned campaigners Manzini Wanderers and this season’s log leaders Green Mamba. They have a date today with regional rivals Tambuti at Mayaluka Stadium at 4pm.
Efforts to get Ace’s comments proved futile at the time of compiling this report while Mahlalela asked not to comment.