Mathetha to lead Swallows

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 14:27:00 +0000

Ts'epo Mathetha in a training session with the senior women football team Mehalalitoe last year at Bambatha Ts'ita

Former Likuena goalkeeper, Ts'epo Mathetha, has stepped in as an acting coach at the newly promoted Premier League side, Swallows.

Mathetha has been asked to act on Tuesday this week after the team's coach Lebohang Matobo had a fallout of the players.

Swallows' general Manager, Nkhahle Nkhahle, says Maboto as a result had to be sidelined from the team for awhile and therefore Mathetha, who just joined Swallows as a goalkeepers coach two months ago, was asked to step in as a caretaker coach.

Nkhahle further rubbishes rumours that Matobo has resigned or gave up owing to Swallows players' behaviour.

"He hasn't resigned. It is just that he had a fallout with the players and that resulted in him being sidelined for a while," Nkhahle said.

Nkhahle again says Matobo is no longer the team's head coach but the assistant coach since he does not have required coaching licence to coach at the Premier League, after helping Swallows to re-gain their top-flight league status after were demoted to the A Division a couple of seasons ago. "He is still part of the team but as an assistant coach since he doesn't have required coaching licence to coach at the Premier League," he says.

"But from now onwards the team is under the guidance of Mathetha." Nkhahle says they will soon announce the team's new coach who will be working with Matobo as an assistant coach and Mathetha as a goalkeepers' coach. Mathetha has been asked to lead the team ahead of a pre-season tournament which will see Swallows, Bantu and LMPS locking horns at PTC this coming Sunday.

This was after Swallows put up a disappointing performance at the Alliance Winter Challenge at Setsoto Stadium earlier this month, where they were the invited guests.

The Mazenod based-side were hammered 5-0 by Lioli in the quarter-final of the four-team tournament and 3-0 Matlama in the losers' quarter-finals respectively.

Mathetha says all the Swallows team needs is motivation, direction and guidance in order to pick up premier league form.

"They already have an identity as a team, and that is what will make my job easy as a standing-in coach," Mathetha said.

"I know what kind of players to deal with in terms of flair and skill, and mine is just to improve them in terms of play."

The Sport - Mathetha in charge at Swallows

Mathetha to lead Swallows