Michael Loftman absent as Sundowns leave for Austria amid Wydad links
Michael Loftman, former assistant coach to Rulani Mokwena at Mamelodi Sundowns, was notably absent as the team departed for their pre-season tour in Austria on Saturday.
Loftman, who is yet to resign from Masandawana, was expected to travel with the team.
However, he was not part of the team that left OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday evening. Loftman’s absence has fueled speculation that he is set to reunite with Mokwena at Wydad Casablanca, where the latter has recently been appointed head coach.
Loftman, initially hired as a set-piece coach before being promoted to assistant, has a history of loyalty to Mokwena, having worked with him at Orlando Pirates and Sundowns.
With Mokwena granted the freedom to assemble his own technical team at Wydad, Loftman’s departure seems increasingly likely.
The potential move comes on the heels of Sinethemba Badela’s resignation from Sundowns, with expectations that he will also join Mokwena’s staff at Wydad.
In addition, Badela didn’t attend the CAF B Coaching Licence graduation ceremony at SAFA Ekurhuleni on Friday despite completing the course. SAFA Technical Director Walter Steenbok stated that the coach asked to be excused for ‘personal business’ in Morocco.
Loftman’s absence from the pre-season tour appears to further solidify these speculations.
As Masandawana embark on their preparations for the upcoming season, the absence of Loftman raises questions about the team’s coaching dynamics and potential replacements for the departing staff.
COULD MICHAEL LOFTMAN BE THE FIFTH TECHNICAL TEAM MEMBER TO LEAVE?
Besides Badela, Mamelodi Sundowns have also lost fitness trainer Sibusiso Mahlangu and performance analysts Sibusiso Makitla and Dayle Solomons. They all tendered their resignations after Mokwena was sacked earlier this month.
It is, however, not clear if they will also follow him. Mokwena was on Thursday unveiled as the new coach of Wydad. The Casablanca giants are set to go for pre-season in Turkey.
Efforts to get a comment were fruitless as Loftman’s phone rang unanswered several times. He also did not respond to text messages.
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