Tanzania’s Singida to appoint Brazilian mentor: What next for Thabo Senong?
Tanzania outfit Singida Fountain Gate are set to announce their new Brazilian coach Ricardo Ferreira, who takes over from Thabo Senong with immediate effect.
Senong has been holding fort in an acting capacity following the sudden departure of Ernst Middendorp last month.
The German quit the club two weeks after taking over, leaving the former Sekhukhune United assistant coach in Tanzania.
Senong was joined by two other South Africans, goalkeeper’s coach Thembalethu Moses and biokineticist Kelvin Ndlomo, in following Middendorp to Singida.
The trio were in charge in the club’s last three matches, with Senong at the helm. In the CAF Confederation Cup, they lost the return leg in Egypt 4-1 to Future Stars. That result [4-2 on aggregate] saw them crash out of the interclub second-tier competition after their narrow 1-0 win at home.
Their next assignment was against Mtibwa Sugar in a Tanzania Premier League match. They won 1-0, picking their first win. Last Sunday, they fell 2-1 to Dar es Salaam giants Simba SC in a league match.
WHAT NEXT FOR THABO SENONG & CO?
The club’s CEO, Olebile Sikwane, confirmed that Senong would retain his position as first assistant to the new man in charge.
The former Lesotho national team coach’s contract remains that of an assistant, and “nothing will change”.
“There’s no changes,” Sikwane told FARPost. “Thabo stays as the first assistant coach. He’s got the experience and the gravitas. He’s handled himself well; his analysis and match preparation have changed our game approach.”
Senong has been hailed as a consummate professional and an incredible person to work with. “He’s a fantastic human being socially, a great asset to this club going forward,” added Sikwane. He further said the club was also keeping Moses and Ndlomo to assist their new mentor.
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