THE Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has once again demonstrated its apparent inability to think beyond recycling familiar faces by reinstating Dominic Kunene as head coach of the senior national team, Sihlangu Semnikati.
This decision raises serious questions about the association’s ambitions, its technical direction and most importantly, its commitment to taking local football forward.
One cannot help but wonder what has changed. What has Kunene done differently to convince the EFA leadership that he is now the right person to lead a national team that has struggled for years to compete at international level? More importantly, what evidence suggests that his return will produce results that were missing during his previous tenure?
I have nothing against Kunene as an individual. However, when it comes to his record with the national team, there are legitimate concerns. His previous stint did little to convince the nation that he was capable of transforming Sihlangu into a competitive side.
He was subsequently moved to coach the national Under-20 team, which went on to lose all its matches at a tournament in Mozambique. Yet, remarkably, the same coach is now being entrusted with the responsibility of leading the senior national team again.
Where is the logic in all this?
I was hardly surprised by the decision because it reflects what appears to be the EFA leadership’s favourite approach: recycling. Instead of identifying fresh technical ideas, searching for new talent and appointing a coach with a convincing vision, the association has once again opted for a familiar name. It is a disappointing reflection of an administration that seems comfortable going around in circles.
What makes this situation even more frustrating is the manner in which the appointment was handled. The EFA initially promised that a new head coach would be announced before the end of September. The association even gave assurances to Parliament that the appointment would be made within that timeframe. When questions arose, we were told that a few logistical issues were being finalised before the announcement could be made.
September eventually passed and the announcement came in October after they shifted their deadline to announce a new coach.
But after all that anticipation, the name presented to the nation was Dominic Kunene. Really?
I have also been told that the EFA technical committee has already selected players for the Malta match, even without the head coach’s involvement. The team is scheduled to depart on Sunday, yet the players have not even had a chance to train together. When will Sihlangu be taken seriously?
How can we expect the team to perform when there is such a glaring lack of planning, coordination and professionalism?
How long must Emaswati continue to endure this kind of treatment? Surely, the nation deserves better than vague promises, delayed announcements and decisions that appear to offer little hope of meaningful progress.
There are also growing concerns about the timing of certain appointments within the football structures, particularly with elections approaching.
Emaswati are not fools. They can see what is happening around them. There is a perception that individuals who are eligible to vote are being strategically positioned in influential roles ahead of the forthcoming elections. Whether the EFA leadership agrees or not, such developments inevitably raise questions about the motives behind its decisions.
The danger is that football is being sacrificed at the altar of internal politics and personal interests. Instead of building a strong national team, the focus appears to be on positioning individuals and securing support. If this perception is allowed to persist, the credibility of the association will continue to suffer.
This is precisely the time when the EFA should be developing a serious football strategy. We need a competitive Sihlangu, a sustainable development programme and a technical structure that prioritises performance over personal relationships. Instead, we are witnessing the same old approach, with familiar faces being recycled while the national team continues to struggle.
The upcoming friendly matches in Malta also raise questions about the actual benefits of this arrangement. I had hoped that these international fixtures would form part of a deliberate strategy to improve our FIFA ranking, expose our players to stronger opposition and build a competitive squad. However, without a clear technical vision, one cannot help but wonder whether this will simply become another expensive European trip with very little to show for it.
Even more concerning are reports of dissatisfaction within the EFA executive ranks over the decision. If members of the association’s own leadership are uncomfortable with the appointment, perhaps it is time for those responsible to reconsider whether this decision genuinely serves local football.
Our position in international football should be a national embarrassment and a wake-up call. With Sihlangu languishing around 168th in the FIFA rankings, Eswatini is nowhere near the level required to compete consistently. We are not even among the top 100 nations whose representatives are eligible to vote in the Ballon d’Or process. Meanwhile, neighbouring countries such as Lesotho and Botswana are making strides that should challenge us to rethink our approach.
Eswatini football needs a complete overhaul, fresh thinking and leadership that understands the importance of long-term planning. We cannot continue rewarding failure and expecting different results.
Kunene’s reinstatement is not simply about one coach. It is about an entire football administration that must answer difficult questions about its priorities and ambitions.
Emaswati deserve better. Sihlangu deserves better. Our football deserves better. If EFA continues confusing recycling with progress, Eswatini football will remain exactly where it is today, ‘going nowhere’!
