Banyana Banyana assistant coach to miss England clash

Mbuli will be in Glasgow, Scotland attending Phase Two of the UEFA B Coaching License Diploma which runs between 21-25 and 28-29 October 2024.

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The European Champions and the African Champions meet on Tuesday, 29 October 2024 in what has been coined the “Clash of the Champions.”

The match will be played at the Building Society Arena, the home of Coventry City in England, with a 20h45 kickoff.

Mbuli, who is also the University of the Western Cape (UWC) head coach, had a torrid time last month while on club duty in Malawi in the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifier as she had to juggle between the tournament and her studies. This led to her missing some of the online classes and at other times not going to training sessions with her students.

UWC won the tournament, defeating Botswana’s Gaborone United 9-8 after a very tense penalty shootout. The Capetonians rewrote the history books by becoming the first university team to not only compete in the CAF tournament but also win it at the first time of trying. They join defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies at the continental finals at a date still to be determined by CAF.

“I had a difficult period in Malawi jumping between my UEFA B Coaching License course as well as leading the team in the tournament, I am just happy it worked out very well. But this time around it is a physical exercise where we have to attend with other coaches, and I cannot afford to miss it especially when I am so close to completing,” said Mbuli, who was speaking exclusively to SABC Sport.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish coach Des (Desiree Ellis) and the entire Banyana Banyana team well for this very difficult encounter because England is a very good team, with a very good coach but I am positive our players will give it their all and we could come back with a positive result.”

The UWC coach will return to Glasgow in December for her final assessment before she can graduate.

SABC Sport has learnt that the South African Football Association (SAFA) is currently finalising Mbuli’s temporary replacement to assist Ellis during the England match, with the announcement expected soon.