Khurishi Mphahlele, chairman of Baroka FC, has exclusively revealed to KickOff the reason behind the divorce between the Limpopo outfit and Morgan Mammila after the latter stepped down as coach.
Amukelani Hlungwani, Mammila's assistant, has been assigned the task of restoring the club's playing style and culture.
Following a poor start to the 2024/25 Motsepe Foundation Championship season, the club announced that Mammila had resigned from his position as head coach.
In a candid interview with KickOff, Mphahlele says he wasn't surprised by his resignation because he was lost.
The football we played was too different. It was different football. I even told him: 'This is not the Baroka team I know. This is something else'.
"It's the same players, but the way they play is different from what they did before.
As I told him to write a match report, he kept on talking about struggling, struggling, struggling... and I told him: 'Everyone is struggling, even the bench is struggling'.
As for his signings, we were working together on them. My only concern is that we signed a lot of over-age players. I'm okay with the quality they possess, but they are just past their prime," says the straight-talking club president.
Mphahlele says they have already begun searching for Mammila's replacement, but they are not in a hurry.
"As for the new coach, time will tell, but I'm not in a hurry because in the meantime, JJ Hlungwani must return the club to its playing culture.
We had two friendlies under him over the weekend, and I could see that they are progressing well. I like what I've seen of him so far.
