Mbabane – Moneni Pirates have undergone a major coaching shake-up after head coach Meck Mwase and his assistant Charles Manda abruptly stepped down, leaving the club reorganising its technical bench just seven games into the MTN Premier League season.
Club CEO Brian Dlamini announced the shake-up during a live briefing on yesterday, revealing that Mwase had tendered his resignation due to family matters in Malawi. Dlamini said the departure caught the leadership off guard, noting, “It is with sadness that we accept his resignation at a time when we had begun to see positive displays from the team.”
He added indirectly that the timing was unfortunate, as the club believed the coaching duo still had the capacity to turn the season around.
The changes come amid a difficult start to the campaign, with the Pirates collecting two wins, one draw, and four losses, leaving them 11th on the log with seven points. The situation intensified after the team entered a three-game ultimatum, starting with a 1–0 loss to Nsingizini Hotspurs over the weekend—adding to pressure already fueled by a preceding 2–1 defeat to Manzini Sea Birds.
Supporters had been increasingly vocal on social media, pointing out that the team lacked the spark and energy it had shown last season when Moneni reached the finals of both the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup and the Ingwenyama Cup. Dlamini acknowledged these concerns indirectly, saying they had “never panicked,” as they regarded themselves as a big team capable of recovering.
Mwase, who joined Pirates from Mbabane Highlanders and brought Manda along with him, said he needed to return home urgently. “I hope the team will do well, and I’m grateful to the directors, the supporters, and mainly the players for their support,” he said. He added that he wished the team the best going forward.
Manda said he would miss the squad and hoped the Pirates would “turn the corner and achieve their goals.” He admitted indirectly that the early-season setbacks had placed them under immense pressure, especially after losing their opening match of the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup, where the team had finished as runners-up last year.
Dlamini said the club would now begin accepting applications for a new head coach. “Once we have the new coach, we’ll make an announcement,” he said.
With their technical bench dismantled, the Pirates face the challenge of stabilising their season while searching for a new leader to steer the club out of early turbulence.
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