FOLLOWING a poor start and a 14th league finish last season, AmaZulu’s Board of Directors decided to release Manqoba Mngithi as the head coach yesterday morning.
According to the club’s Director Graham O’Connor the decision to terminate the former Golden Arrows coach’s services was purely influenced by lack of positive results.
Out of a possible 15 points from five matches played, Usuthu has only collected two points and scored one goal. The 1-0 home defeat by Moroka Swallows on Saturday added to Mngqithi’s woes.
“Considering the fact that Manqoba has added a lot of value in the club but unfortunately the results were not forthcoming, hence we had to release him from his contract,” he said.
O’Connor told AmaZulufc.net that the vacant position will be filled by current Durban Warriors coach Roger Palmgren who will be assisted by the same technical team.
The former Thanda Royal Zulu and Sierra Leone national coach will assume his new role immediately.
“Firstly I feel very sad for the coach because I’ve been part of AmaZulu, and I was one of the people who recommended him but we needed more points than we have.
We’re all going to be judged by results as coaches. I promised myself after Thanda to never take a team without proper administration and a good team.
I still believe that even though we have not been getting the good results – we have a good mixture of young and experienced players,” said Palmgren.
Palmgren’s first match in charge will be an away tie against Bidvest Wits on 24th September.-PSL
