Eswatini: Highlanders AM new coach sets target

South African coach Selaotse Mosala has set himself a target in his second spell with Eswatini MTN Premier League giants Mbabane Highlanders AM FC.

The former Sekhukhune United assistant coach joined the Ezimnyama Ngenkani coaching panel to replace Ernest Mavuso who resigned from his role with the team last week following a string of defeats.

Returning to the Eswatini Premier League club he managed in 2022, Mosala started his reign with a 0-0 draw against Green Mamba FC at Mhlume Stadium on Saturday.

The South African trainer told Pan-Africa Football he has found Highlanders AM better in terms of organization and squad quality than was the case in his first spell.

“It is a different environment than before,” the coach said. “New management, different way of running the club and different types of players than what I had before. The approach is a little bit different than before as most of the players have pace.”

Why Mosalala is optimistic of Highlanders top 8 prospects

The Highlanders AM gaffer said he was happy with the manner his players applied themselves defensively in his first game in charge and he foresees good things to come.

Such optimism has since given Mosala hope that Highlanders AM can finish in the top-eight of the Eswatini Premier League.

“I got a good response from the group during four sessions I had with them [last week]. It feels good to be back here to face a different challenge. I will try by all means to take the team to the top 8, if possible top 4,” he added.

South African football administrator Shawn Mkhize, formerly in charge of South Africa’s Royal AM, owns Highlanders AM.

The impact of club boss Shawn Mkhize at Highlanders AM

Mkhize became the majority shareholder of the Eswatini side last July after South Africa’s elite league governing body expelled her Royal AM from the flagship Betway Premiership over financial problems which saw curators handling the then Durban-based club’s affairs.

To her credit, she did not give up on football but crossed the South African borders to invest in Ezimnyama Ngenkani.

Highlanders AM sit in position 10 in the log table with 10 points from nine games, eight points behind leaders and holders Nsingizini Hotspurs.