Thabo Senong joined Ernst Middendorp earlier this month when he signed for Tanzania Premier League side Singida Fountain Gate.
Senong was not the only South African who followed Middendorp to Singida. Goalkeeper’s coach Thembalethu Moses and biokineticist Kelvin Ndlomo also linked up with the German.
On Monday, just a day after the 1-0 win over Egypt’s Future Stars, the former Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows coach dumped the club.
In his statement, the nomadic 64-year-old mentor accused Singida’s management of interference.
“The authorities of Singida Fountain Gate scheduled an urgent meeting for the next day with the entire Technical Team without explaining the purpose of the meeting. We expected that there would be words of praise.
“However, that was in no way the case. The intention of the meeting became clear. It was all about expressing dissatisfaction. My point of view was not requested. A discussion was not desired…”
He also suggests that the former assistant, a Ugandan national Matias Lule, who would be added to the technical team immediately, was an issue.
WHAT HAPPENS TO SENONG & CO?
Middendorp says he had a meeting with the three gentlemen he invited to join him in Tanzania. His message to them was that they could continue and honour their contracts with the club.
“They have contracts with the team; they have to decide themselves to stay or continue. I think they can stay….,” said Middendorp.
According to our sources in Tanzania, Senong, Moses, and Ndlomo remained in Dar es Salaam with the team. The club is mulling either appointing Senong or Lule to take charge of the team in the interim.
Thabo Senong has previously coached the Lesotho national team and youth national teams in South Africa. He also worked in the Orlando Pirates youth set-up.
His most recent job was with Sekhukhune United, where he served as an assistant coach. He was then moved to the position of head of development.
Lule has handled several clubs in the Uganda Premier League and the U20 national team, as well as an assistant to Sébastien Desabre.
He arrived in Tanzania in 2020 to coach Mbeya City before switching to Singida last season to take up the assistant coach role.
After the departure of the man Middendorp replaced, Hans Van Pluijm, Lule was the man who held fort on an interim basis.
The club is expected to make an announcement in due course. They take on Azam FC in their next league match on Thursday.
The return leg against Future Stars of Egypt is set for next week in Cairo. Fountain Gate finished fourth in the Tanzania Premier League last season and qualified for the CAF inter-club competition. They will look to improve on that this season while progressing in the CAF Confederation Cup.
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