Mtawali’s former teammate buys Celtic
Max Tshabalala, Malawi Under-20 coach Ernest Mtawali’s former teammate at Bloemfontein Celtic has bought the South Africa Premiership team.
The Sowetan newspaper and several South African publications reported yesterday that Tshabalala, who also played at Celtic alongside Mtawali in the early 1980s, has reportedly bought the club at R50 million from Jimmy Augousti.
In addition, Tshabalala, who used to play for Celtic’s colts during the era of Mtawali, Michael Yeliwe and Lovemore Chafunya, said he will retain the entire coaching staff, reported www.sowetan.co.za.
Tshabalala, a 45-year-old quantity surveyor by profession, has since promised to retain all players and coaching staff who include Malawians Limbikani Mzava, Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango and team manager John Maduka.
The Junior Flames’ defender Miracle Gabeya and midfielder Ernest Tambe are also undergoing trials at the club.
Mtawali yesterday remembered Yeliwe as being their then Celtic captain, but seemed to have forgotten Tshabalala.
However, in a telephone interview from South Africa, Gabeya yesterday said his club Big Bullets were still negotiating with Celtic over a possible deal which might be affected by the handovers.
