Bantu suspends coach

Chris Theko

Maseru-Barely a month after appointment as the head coach of Bantu, Thabo TÅ¡utÅ¡ulupa has been slapped with a weeklong suspension following a string of poor results. 

The defending Vodacom Premier League (VPL) Champions announced the appointment of TÅ¡utÅ¡ulupa as head coach of the club until the end of the season with an option for renewal. 

The announcement followed the departure of head coach Bob Mafoso who left the club when his contract with the Mafeteng based outfit expired and failed to reach an amicable agreement for renewal.

However, following a string of unsatisfactory results since he took-over the leadership of the club in January.

He has been suspended for seven days pending a disciplinary hearing. 

According to Bantu Communications and Marketing Manager (CMM) Bokang Phasumane, the suspension has been influenced not only by the results but the non-remorseful behaviour of the coach. 

“The coach has indeed been suspended following a string of bad results, but that is not the only case against him, since because of the poor run, the club wrote him a letter of notice to say our next game against Lijabatho has to be won against all odds,” Phasumane said. 

Phasumane stated that though the coach committed to fixing the poor performance, he refused to accept the letter and sign it.

“When we gave him the letter, he refused to accept it and sign it. That prompted the executive of Bantu to suspend him until the day of the disciplinary hearing where a decision will be made on the way forward,” he said. 

Tšutšulupa’s suspended commenced on 15^th to 22^nd February 2022, after which he shall be hauled before a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday 22^nd February, and in the meantime, assistant coach Dlomo Monaphathi will be in charge of training and match-day team leadership.

Since the former Kaizer Chiefs Development coach took over, Bantu has only managed to secure one win out of four games while settling for three draws. 

The sit in second-place of the VPL log table with 43 points after 20 games played having won 13 games, lost three and drawing four in this current season. 

Bantu is 10 points behind log-leaders Matlama in the 16-team elite league after 21 games.