By Chris Dlamini
A new and foreign coach is sought by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) but current gaffer Dominic Kunene looks set for another shot at the COSAFA Cup.
The regional showpiece usually takes place between June and August in South Africa. Dates for this year’s senior tournament are yet to be conveyed.
An advert by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) is currently running in various local media houses.
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Already, some applications have been received by the local football mother body, as affirmed by President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane on Monday afternoon during a press conference at Sigwaca House.
The press conference was mainly to confirm the news as reported in our daily publication last week that Kunene and his assistants,
Ernest Mavuso and Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane were given extended contracts to guide the national team in the June World Cup 2026 Qualifiers against Angola on June 7.
It will then be in Mauritius on June 11. These are all away fixtures.
“After the recommendations by the EFA Technical Committee, we have issued an advert for senior national team new coach and as per the requirements and per your reports as the media, it’ll be a foreign coach.
The post is also open to locals so long as you meet the high standard requirements laid out in the advert.
We already have received some applications from outside coaches but the deadline is next Friday,” Simelane said.
He explained due to the short period before the World Cup Qualifiers next month, they agreed with the Technical Committee to allow the current technical bench to hold the fort.
“As soon as the deadline for applications hits, the Technical Committee will immediately get on it, assess the applications and shortlist as quickly as possible so we complete the process.
My biggest wish personally is that we have our new foreign coach by the end of June but due to various logistics involved it may not be possible he starts work by COSAFA Cup time,”
The president explained when also questioned when the new coach was expected to start and if it meant the current technical bench may lead the squad in the upcoming COSAFA Cup.
He said such logistics that may delay the process was that they must agree on terms with the incoming foreign coach like salary, relocation, and paperwork otherwise they would have the new mentor lead the national team in the COSAFA Cup.
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Simelane explained that they still had the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 Qualifiers to play in but the draw was yet to be conducted after the preliminary round.
Eswatini outfoxed Somalia to make the group stages.
“I must say though that personally, I believe the local coaches have done better than foreigners as we have even got one defeat away from making the AFCON and CHAN Finals when Madze was the coach but this time, we had to take the recommendations of the Technical Committee and we know the media also wants that, so we’ll give you that,” he emphasised.
Simelane also opened the floor to the media to make suggestions of the candidate it expected for the job and some ideas were shared.
He further announced the technical bench will be met soonest but by tomorrow or Thursday another press conference may be called to announce their tentative squad and camp which he explained had been initially due to start Wednesday.
