Zambian Coach Chris Tembo has been fired by Mbabane Swallows with immediate effect

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Christopher Tembo has joined the Mbabane Swallows technical bench
Christopher Tembo has joined the Mbabane Swallows technical bench

IT was long coming and the last stroke was his observation that the team is disorganised tactically following their 1-2 loss to hub giants Manzini Wanderers this past weekend.

SOCCER – IT was long coming and the last stroke was his observation that the team is disorganised tactically following their 1-2 loss to hub giants Manzini Wanderers this past weekend.

That is the tale of Zambian Coach Chris Tembo, who has since been fired with immediate effect by capital city giants Mbabane Swallows following a very short stint of about two months with the team.

Tembo joined the team about two weeks before their unsuccessful Orange Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League preliminary encounter against Zambian side Nkana in February.

His sacking also comes after two consecutive losses to police side Royal Leopard (2-0) in the SwaziBank Cup semi-finals last weekend and Manzini Wanderers (2-1) in the MTN Premier League this past weekend.

Explained

Swallows’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sibusiso Manana yesterday explained that they took the decision to part ways amicably with the coach after they discovered that they had different philosophies as a team and coach and adopting his would have meant that they had to change the playing staff in the team to accommodate it.

“The coach, Chris Tembo is no longer with us as we have parted ways amicably. He wasn’t fully employed by us as we were still assessing him.

We are just parting ways and it is definitely not because of the current results as any coach can bring us the desired results, but we are just going through a rough patch.

Adopt

“He is a good coach and has his own philosophy, which is however different from ours and if we had to adopt it we would have to make many changes in the team including the playing staff,” he remarked.

Manana further wished Tembo the best of luck in his future endeavours and disclosed that they currently owe him nothing. He further stated that Tembo will be going back to Zambia soon.

The sacking of the coach coincides with his outbursts that the team is disorganised after their 1-2 loss to the hub giants at the Somhlolo National Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

He observed that the team is disorganised tactically where the MTN Premier League title is concerned, stating that such is due to a lot of factors. He added that they are also not motivated, which was working to their disadvantage.

… ‘Ace’ linked with ‘Birds’ reunion

SOCCER – MVUMA Hotspurs Coach Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini has been heavily linked with a return to Mbabane Swallows, who have parted ways with their Zambian Coach Chris Tembo.
In the meantime, the team’s physical trainer, Siyabonga Bhembe, who was recently with Manzini Sea Birds as assistant to Mpendulo Ngwenya, will keep the fires burning after starting drilling the team in yesterday afternoon’s training session at the Prince of Wales sports ground.
According to sources close to the team both Swallows and ‘Ace’ have agreed terms for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) B licensed coach, who has had numerous stints with the ‘Beautiful Birds’, to return to the team. Swallows CEO Sibusiso Manana in an interview with this publication yesterday could only state that they have indeed new coaches to take over the team, also stating that they are trying to get a coach that will understand their philosophy.
Qualified
“In our next official game we should be having a qualified coach as per the requirements of the FA to sit on the bench.
 On that we will definitely not compromise, but for now Siyabonga as you can see will keep the fires burning as a trainer and we’ll announce a new coach soon,” said the CEO.
Meanwhile, ‘Ace’ when reached for comment could only confirm that they had engaged in talks with Swallows concerning a possible move back to them.
We are the best organised locally – Manana

SOCCER – MBABANE Swallows CEO Sibusiso Manana has boasted that they are the best organised team in the country.
Manana quashed claims by sacked Zambian Coach Chris Tembo that the team is disorganised tactically due to various factors he would not disclose.
 The CEO said maybe when the coach said they are disorganised he was frustrated by the fact that things were not going his way in the team as he has his own philosophy that he feels clashes with that of the team.
Results
Speaking on the results that are currently not forthcoming in the team, Manana stated that they are working around the clock to normalise the situation and that their supporters should not despair.
“We know that our supporters are spoilt for results as they are not used to seeing the team lose two successive games in the past 10 years or so.
Performance
 “However, our performance is not that bad, but we are just going through a rough patch and it has happened to the best of teams in the world.
 “In the next game our supporters will see a very improved Swallows and they must come in their numbers as we need them the most at this time of the season,” he remarked. Manana further thanked the supporters for rallying behind the team even when the results have not been good.

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