Chris Theko
Premier League giants, Lioli have announced their current assistant coach Vuyani Mangaliso as the caretaker coach in a statement released earlier this week.
The club has been without a coach since the death of their head coach Thomas Tshabalala in early last month.
“The board of directors is happy to announce Assistant Coach Vuyisani Mangaliso as caretaker coach of Lioli FC,” the statement reads.
“This follows the passing on of our Head Coach Mr. Thomas ‘Neva’ Tshabalala. Mr. Mangaliso had been serving within the club as Tshabalala’s assistant. His engagement will bring continuity and stability within our technical division,” reads further the statement.
Magaliso, 38, who hails from Cape town was the assistant coach of Eastern Cape club, Tornado which was playing in the third tier ABC Motsepe League in South Africa. He joined Lioli in November 2020 as Tshabalala’s assistant.
The club further indicated that the decision is meant to give the board adequate time to consider all alternatives and decide on a permanent future plan.
However, this publication has learned that Lioli is already on a mission to find the permanent solution to the vacant head coach position with reports that they are interested in another South African coach, Thabo Tsutsulupa.
The President of Lioli Lebohang Thotanyana, was unavailable for comment on the matter but the club’s general manager Hlalele Matobako refuted the claims saying they are trusting Mangaliso to do the job at the moment.
“At any club, once the coaching position avails itself in any manner, there is a chance of such rumours, but I can confirm that currently the management of the team has made a decision to allow the assistant coach to spearhead the club as caretaker coach until we see otherwise,” Matobako said.
He explained that there will only be a change if and when the club is not producing good results because that’s what football is about.
“Football is about positive results and Lioli is a winning team, should that not be the case only then will we announce changes in the coaching structures. At this moment we are looking also for continuity as the coach Vuyisani had been working with the late coach Tshabalala,” he explained.
Tsutsulupa who is currently the technical director and head coach of ABC Motsepe league side, Royal Eagles, has always said he would return to Lesotho should such an opportunity arise.
He is the former Kaizer Chiefs U-17 coach who also guided Liphakoe to its first top 8 finish in the 2018/19 season since they returned to the premier league 7 years ago. 0000000