Swallows FC have made a big coaching announcement just days after finishing the season in the top eight.
The Birds rose like a phoenix in the second half of the season to finish the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season in eighth place.
Swallows started the season under Dylan Kerr, whom German Ernst Middendorp later replaced.
However, Musa Nyatama had to take charge while Kerr was awaiting his work permit.
When Kerr was axed, Nyatama was roped in again. After Middendorp’s sudden departure, the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates midfielder was appointed caretaker coach.
WHO WILL COACH SWALLOWS FC NEXT SEASON
Administrator-turned-coach Morgan Mammila was brought in as technical director.
At the time, the Beautiful Birds were perched on 14th place, seemingly flirting with relegation or the playoffs.
The duo steered the club to a top-eight finish which will see them play MTN8 next season.
Swallows have since rewarded 35-year-old Nyatama with a permanent contract, while Mammila will continue as a technical advisor
Swallows chairman David Mogashoa confirmed the developments on Robert Marawa’s MSW on Tuesday night.
“It’s now up to me to make sure he gets his chance, and he will be the head coach of Swallows next season,” the Swallows boss said.
Nyatama has been asked to find a capable assistant coach who will run the show in his absence when he goes to do his CAF B and A Licenses outside the country.
“He has a CAF C license, and it’s up to me to make sure that he finds someone in the technical department who can step in when he does his B and A license,” Mogashoa said.
FULL OF FIGHTERS
Nyatama is thrilled to have achieved an eighth-place finish for the club, giving credit to “everyone at the club”. He hinted he had been involved in the planning for the new season.
“When we started, we were at the bottom and having to come from number 16 on the log at one point. I am just happy for everyone at the club. It takes a lot to come back from the bottom to where we finished.
“We have a strong squad that is full of fighters, and we deserve to end where we did. Any coach would love to play from the back, but the negative thing about that is that the players will make mistakes. We started playing for the second ball and not take too much risk, which worked for us.”
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