Sekhukhune United will be without head coach Lehlohonolo Seema for their second preliminary round first-leg tie against Desportivo Lunda Sul in the CAF Confederation Cup, KickOff has learnt.
Babina Noko secured a fourth-place finish in the league table last season, in large part due to Seema, who had taken over in November 2023 with the Bedfordview-based side languishing in relegation waters before his surprise sacking at the end of the season.
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Following a controversial month-long spell under German new coach Peter Hyballa, the former Orlando Pirates captain was asked to return to his role as head coach.
Although he has been training the team, Seema is yet to oversee a competitive match, with now Sporting Director MacDonald Makhubedu having led the team in their only game so far– a 1-0 defeat to Cape Town City in the MTN8 quarterfinals.
That wait is now set to be even longer, with fresh information reaching this publication confirming that Seema has not travelled with the Sekhukhune squad for the trip to Angola, where they face Desportivo Lunda Sul at the 11 de Novembro Stadium in Luanda.
A busy day for Coach Seema at the Betway Premiership Launch!
— Sekhukhune United F.C. (@SekhukhuneFc) September 3, 2024
Ready for an exciting new campaign? #Adibahlabe #betwaypremiership#LisegaziniForever pic.twitter.com/C7PM6jxCTY
ALSO READ | Seema discloses disrespect at Sekhukhune
It remains unclear who will be leading from the dugout, but all indications point to senior coach Kaitano Tembo, with Seema understood to be headed to Lesotho for his CAF A License refresher course in Maseru, as per Lesotho FA regulations.
The 44-year-old is, however, expected to be back in action when Babina Noko begin their Betway Premiership campaign against newly-promoted Magesi FC on Wednesday.
The Confed Cup match on Saturday is scheduled to kick-off at 16:00 SA time.