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MBABANE – Former Manzini Wanderers Coach Ikabort Masocha has expressed concerns about his safety, which led him to leave and join Ezulwini United.
When asked about his resignation from Wanderers, Masocha explained that the day after their 3-0 loss to Mbabane Swallows, he realised that he could no longer work in the hostile environment created by the club’s supporters.
He cited security concerns as the main reason for his departure, as the fans of Manzini Wanderers were demanding his removal from the club. “The day after we lost to Swallows, I made it very clear that I cannot tolerate this environment anymore. It directly affects my security and my life. When you see the number of supporters this team has, and they say they don’t want you, who are you to cling on? That is why I made it clear to Wanderers,” said Masocha.
Furthermore, Masocha revealed that the supporters went as far as approaching him after the Swallows game, and he had to be rescued by the club officials who transported him from the Mavuso Sports Centre to his flat.
The Zimbabwe-born manager also mentioned that a meeting was held on the following Monday at the Manzini Club, where he reiterated his safety
MBABANE – Sports stakeholders who utilise the Mavuso Sports and Exhibition Centre can breathe a sigh of relief as the venue will not be completely shut down during its upcoming renovation.
Du-Van Developers has been awarded the tender for the alterations of the Mavuso Trade Exhibition and Sports Centre’s VVIP Box.
The Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) disclosed that DuVan Developers proposed a contract price of E5 706 010.69 as stated in the intention to award the tender released last month. EIPA has confirmed that construction works have commenced, and periods of a shutdown are to be expected.
EIPA’s Senior Marketing Manager, Mangaliso Mkhatshwa, confirmed the latest developments. “There will be periods of complete shutdown when the risk is perceived as high to avoid accidents. These periods will be communicated concerns, knowing that the Wanderers supporters were out for his blood.
“A car was arranged to take me from my flat to the meeting place, which was the Manzini Club. I arrived there and waited for an hour for a meeting that was supposed to start at 5pm but began an hour later at 6pm. During the meeting, it was evident that I had failed. It became clear to me that I needed to return home, but I hadn’t been paid by the club,” he explained.
Masocha further stated that no one in the management wanted him at Wanderers, which made his position even more uncomfortable. However, he acknowledged that not everyone at Wanderers was eager to see him leave the club. He expressed sympathy for to stakeholders. The contractor is expected to hand over the project later this year,” Mkhatshwa said.
The notice for the tender period allows five months for the completion of the works, which indicates a potential the players, revealing that some of them would text and call him, and two players even visited his residence to express their concerns about the team’s current position, which is third from the bottom.
Concerns
Masocha also raised concerns about the club’s training schedule, pointing out that the team had only trained twice in five days, which he attributed to financial issues. Despite acknowledging that his time at the maroon and white camp had come to an end, Masocha shared some significant moments when the team thrived under his guidance, such as Mlamuli ‘Mlaba’ Nkambule winning the Player of the Month award for January. completion around August.
“Other parts of the sports centre will remain available for use. Bookings will be managed in accordance with the works and risks associated with the project at each given time a booking
“Imagine a team in the relegation zone producing a Player of the Month, which highlights the positive changes we made in our pursuit of better results. But that is all in the past now; let’s focus on the remaining games of the league,” Masocha concluded.
Meanwhile, Manzini Wanderers Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Diana ‘Girlie’ Johnson expressed shock at the news of their coach’s unexpected departure to join Ezulwini United. The publication reported that the hub giant’s gaffer had made a surprising switch to another club within the league. The coach, who had been a significant figure in the hub giants’ managerial team, was reportedly introduced to his new club, Ezulwini United, on Monday afternoon in the presence of the players. “Sadly, we were not informed of this development beforehand. I only learned about it through social media.
“The last time I spoke with the coach was during a productive meeting we had a week ago, where everything seemed to be progressing well. This news comes as a complete surprise, and we are now scrambling to understand the circumstances surrounding the coach’s departure. It is disheartening that such a significant change occurred without any prior communication or indication from the coach himself,” she said. The coach eventually tendered his resignation yesterday.
SCOPE OF CONTRACT
The scope of works for the project entails the alterations to the Mavuso Sports Centre VVIP Box including: Demolition and removal of existing VVIP box;
Altering current seating to new VVIP box;
Balustrading.
is requested,” he added.
Key stakeholders likely to be affected include the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) and Athletics Eswatini (AE). The Mavuso Sports Centre is a primary venue for most major league games, as the Somhlolo National Stadium is still under rehabilitation.
With only seven games remaining in the premier league, including the Mbabane derby, the timing of the upgrades is crucial.
Athletics Eswatini typically uses the venue to stage its Track and Field events, while the Eswatini Schools Sports Association (ESSA) utilises it for similar events.
The phased approach to the shutdowns aims to minimise disruption and ensure that the sports calendar can proceed with minimal impact.