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Philani Mabhena

Mtokozisi Dube Botswana Correspondent
FORMER Highlanders, FC Platinum and How Mine assistant coach Philani Mabhena has joined Botswana’s BeMOBILE Premiership newcomers Sankoyo Bush Bucks ahead of the 2014/15 season.The Maun-based club announced the capture of the Zimbabwean coach on Monday. Bush Bucks marketing and public relations officer Thato Molosi confirmed Mabhena’s move, saying the club would immensely benefit from their new man’s expertise.

“Mabhena is very passionate about youth development and has coached the Bloemfontein Youth (Magwegwe) teams. We believe that will benefit Sankoyo. He was the assistant at FC Platinum. He also coached at How Mine FC in Zimbabwe,” said Molosi.

The man who led them to the premiership, Gadimang Tiiso, has been relegated to the role of an assistant.

Mabhena is not new to Botswana as he has previously worked with army side Mogoditshane Fighters.

His immediate challenge at Bush Bucks is to ensure they maintain their premiership status at the end of the season. He takes over a club thin on experience as they are yet to make any major signings.

The new season kicks off next Saturday with sponsorship negotiations yet to be concluded.  BeMOBILE have offered P30 million for the next three seasons, a figure the Botswana Premier League is not pleased with.

However, at almost P10 million a year, the package is better than the Zimbabwean premiership.