Bantu coach gets the boot!!

Chris Theko

March 01, 2022

Defending Vodacom Premier League champions Bantu have released their coach Thabo Tšutšulupa merely a month since his appointment as the man in charge of the team.

Bantu had been sailing like a ship without a captain in the absence of their coach Tšutšulupa who was initially suspended for two weeks.

He was suspended after a string of poor results since he took over the reins following the departure of long-serving coaching Bob Mafoso.

Mafoso left the Mafeteng outfit in January following failed negotiations regarding the renewal of his contract which expired in August 2021.  

However, following a string of bad results since he took over the club in January, Tšutšulupa was initially suspended for seven days which had grown to two weeks, the eventuality of which was getting the boot from the team which currently sits in second place on the Vodacom Premier League, some 15 points away from Matlama.

A day after the suspension, Bantu Communications and Marketing Manager (CMM) Bokang Phasumane, had told this publication that the suspension had not only been necessitated by the coach’s lack of delivery, but that he had shown very unpalatable conduct for a coach of his caliber, showing no remorse for his wrongs refusing to accept and duly sign his initial suspension letter.

TÅ¡utÅ¡ulupa was suspended for seven days starting from 15^th to 22^nd February 2022, on which day his hearing took place the result of which was termination of his contract. 

According to Bantu’s General Manager Poosela Pule, the coach and the club agreed to terminate his contract following a number of meetings. 

“The coach has been released from his duties, there was a disciplinary meeting and subsequently two other meetings that led to an agreement being reached by the two parties to terminate the contract,” Pule said.

The club has since brought back former assistant coach Teboho TÅ¡iu to lead the team until the end of the season. Pule highlighted that the concern of the team’s management was the style of play which seemed to be changing under TÅ¡utÅ¡ulupa and believe it can only be preserved by TÅ¡iu.  

“The management has decided on bringing back Teboho Tšiu from South Africa because he knows the culture of Bantu and style of play. He will be in charge until the end of the season assisted by coach Dlomo Monaphathi where we will review his performance and then relook at our options,” he said.

Despite their recent run of poor results, ‘A Matšo Matebele’ has been sitting comfortably in second position of the top-flight league having played 21 games, where they won 13, drew five and lost three.

But with nine games to play chances of successfully defending their title seem far-fetched with the leaders Matlama needing only six points to seal-off league championship.