Royal AM co-coach Abram Nteo, uncomfortably, responded to questions whether Khabo Zondo is still part of the club and gave two somewhat contrasting statements.
Zondo was not with Royal AM as Nteo was running things solo when the KZN club was beaten 3-1 by SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday, amid rumours the 60-year-old has been sacked.
Royal AM boss Shauwn ‘Ma’ Mkhize had told iDiski Times ahead of the match that Zondo was left behind to train the other half of the squad, with players who are recovering from injuries ahead of their clash against ZESCO United in the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday (16:00).
Nteo, who was visibly uncomfortable with the questions about Zondo, insisted that his co-coach is still part of the club, while somewhat strangely also admitting he doesn’t what is happening.
“The one for Dan, I understand he left, but with Khabo I’m not sure what is happening,” Nteo said after the loss to SuperSport.
“Khabo, the way I know he’s still part of us. The issue with Khabo I’m not sure what is happening because as far as I’m aware he’s still part of Royal AM.”
When asked if the change of coaches is affecting the team’s performances as this was the second league loss on the bounce, Nteo insisted they didn’t.
“Somewhere somehow it didn’t affect that much in terms of that coach Dan left. Maybe this thing in the media that came and maybe that affected some players, but we spoke to them,” he said.
“And Zondo is still part of the Royal AM as far as I know. But I can’t comment more in terms of changing coaches. I only know the one of Dan leaving and the other ones I don’t know what is happening.”
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After journalists continued to ask about Zondo’s absence, Nteo then reaffirmed the point of MaMkhize that Zondo was training the other half of the squad.
“We left the other team that is going to play the CAF Confed Cup on the weekend, so he was busy training the team that we left in Durban,” he said.
“Today [Wednesday] we will meet. [But remember] the games are too close to each other and he wanted to get the other players to be fit because some of the players are [returning] from injuries.
“We need to speed up their recovery and when we play the game against ZESCO they are ready. So this is part of our plan, and that’s why I came here alone and played the game against SuperSport.”
Whether Zondo will be at the match against Zambia side ZESCO on Sunday remains to be seen. Nteo will definitely be the man on the sidelines, as Zondo does not have the required CAF licenses.
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