Mabedi appointed Aces assistant coach
Up-and-coming Malawian coach Patrick Mabedi has quit relegated South Africa Absa Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Moroka Swallows and picked up a job as Mpumalanga Black Aces assistant coach.
The former Flames captain insisted that he made up his mind on leaving Swallows three weeks ago before they were relegated following a 1-0 loss to Black Leopards in a promotion play-off played on Saturday.
Swallows also lost 1-0 to Jomo Cosmos on Wednesday night in an academic play-off match.
“I am just sad that my team got relegated. I wanted it to be in PSL. However, it is time to move on. It is always good to grow and face new challenges in life,” said the ex-Bata Bullets’ (now Big Bullets) defender who joins at Aces Flames’ player Limbikani Mzava.
Mabedi holds a German Football Federation coaching certificate and served as Flames’ assistant coach. His German B licence is equivalent to Uefa B Licence, hence Mabedi is short-listed to attend Confederation of African Football (CAF) A Licence hosted by Football Association of Malawi (FAM) later this month in Blantyre.
Mabedi did not disclose the duration of his contract with Aces, but he will work under Muhsin Ertugral who coached him during his illustrious career at Kaizer Chiefs.
Mabedi finished off his playing career at Swallows where he was eventually made head of youth development, before becoming an assistant to coach Craig Roslee.
Swallows’ chief executive officer, Leon Prins has since told South Africa’s Soccer Laduma magazine that no major decisions have been taken regarding the side’s plans following their relegation to the National First Division.
“Look, it is still early days for us to meet and make the decisions we need to regarding the future of the club. I’ve also just returned back. There will be a lot of meetings obviously to discuss the way forward,” Prins was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
