Chico wants someone younger not Mwaanga
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday November 25, 2023 06:00
The move as the club said, was meant to fill the gaps in the technical team as Nare is consistently involved with the CAF A License training and would have limited time to train the team. Over the weekend, in the absence of Nare, Mwaanga guided Mapantsula to a 1-0 win over Notwane in his first game in charge.
Speaking to MmegiSport, Gunners' public relations officer, Isaac Mmualefe defended the decision to appoint Mwaanga as he said the club was looking for an experienced tactician who could fill in for Nare. He also said the club would in the near future accede to Chico's request to look for a younger coach. 'Chico only said Mwaanga is a bit old and he wants us to appoint a younger coach to work with him. He wants a youthful coach whom he can drill even when Chico leaves, we would be in safe hands.
'The arrangement we have made is that we have appointed development coaches as assistant coaches (for the first team). This was to make sure that the Gunners' philosophy remains. 'I cannot tell you who we are looking to bring in as of now but Chico, due to CAF A course, will always be in and out. So at the moment, we cannot bring in someone to learn from Chico because Chico is not always around. So we are looking for some level of stability to avoid defeats and keep the supporters happy.
So we went for experience in Mwaanga. In the end, we as the executive committee have a responsibility to hire coaches,' said Mmualefe. MmegiSport has been informed that former assistant, Phenyo Mongala could return to the Lobatse side. Gunners' legend, Tiroyamodimo 'Trx' Mohambi is also being linked with a return to the club. Gunners are also said to be eyeing former Nico United coach, Wame 'Pepezino' Mokoke who was fired by Majombolo early this week after a series of unsatisfactory results.
Under Mokoke, Nico collected three points from a possible 18 as they sit second from the bottom on the Botswana Premier League log. Mokoke had a fruitful spell in his first stint with Gunners between 2021 and 2022. Notwane has also made technical team changes with former Mochudi Centre Chiefs' coach, Thatayamodimo Tebele taking over the reins from Omphemetse 'Fowler' Setswe. Tebele has been Fowler's number two for this season as the gaffer leaves on a four-match sabbatical leave.
This publication has been informed that Setswe was given the weekend's 1-0 defeat to Gunners to save his job at the club.