Tanzania giants Young Africans president Engineer [Eng.] Hersi Ally Said has explained Senzo Mbatha’s departure from the club.
Mbatha announced his exit from the reigning Tanzanian champions Yanga on Sunday after two years as the club’s CEO.
The maverick administrator joined the club from crosstown rivals Simba as they started their rebuilding exercise. Last season, Yanga won a treble, ending a five-year drought.
His decision comes as a result of an expired contract, which came to an end on July 31. The two parties agreed not to renew it.
“It wasn’t a termination or anything of that sort, his contract was coming to an end [31 July 2022], and he had been indicating that he’s been away from home for a while.
“At the end of the season, we agreed he would go home for a break and then discuss upon his return. When he returned, he indicated that he felt he needed to return home,” Hersi told FARPost.
In May this year, Mbatha told this publication that he was eager to return home closer to his family. At the time, the former Platinum Stars general manager did not hide that it was not easy to be away from home.
“Look, I am a South African. I was born and raised in South Africa. I have plied my trade and trained in South Africa, so I will not lie to people and say I don’t have ambitions of coming back,” he said.
“I hope that I go back home. I have a very young family back in South Africa, so I will return home. When? I don’t know. Only God knows what plans he has for me.
“It is not easy being away from home. However, while I’m enjoying my stay here in Tanzania, I will not hide the fact that I will be returning home on one of the good days.”Mbatha is a revered administrator, having been part of the Orlando Pirates team that won the treble in 2012. He also won trophies at Platinum Stars and Simba.
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