South African club Highbury FC part ways with Vusumuzi Vilakazi after just four months

South African club Highbury FC have confirmed the departure of head coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi, marking another unexpected managerial change in the country’s football landscape.

Having server ties with the coach, the club has expressed appreciation to the South African tactician for his contribution, commitment and dedication during his time at the helm.

Highbury acknowledged Vilakazi’s efforts and the work he put into the team but did not provide specific reasons for the decision to end their working relationship.

The announcement brings an end to a relatively short spell for the experienced coach, who was appointed in June 2026 ahead of the new Motsepe Foundation Championship campaign.

Vilakazi arrived at the club with the responsibility of guiding the team towards a stronger campaign and improving their chances of securing promotion to South Africa’s top-flight division.

However, his departure comes with Highbury occupying eighth position in the league standings, having collected 15 points from their opening 10 matches.

The team have recorded four victories, three draws and three defeats, scoring 11 goals while conceding the same number.

Their latest league outing ended in disappointment after suffering a 3-1 away defeat to NWU Soccer Institute on November 7, a result that followed a 2-1 comeback victory over Leicesterford six days earlier.

The contrasting results have now been followed by the club’s decision to part ways with the coach, although Highbury have not indicated whether the outcome of the recent fixtures played a role in the decision.

Vilakazi’s departure also comes as a setback to the club’s plans following their sixth-place finish in last season’s Motsepe Foundation Championship.

Highbury collected 42 points from 30 matches during the previous campaign and had hoped to build on that performance under the former coach.

With the South African tactician now leaving after just over four months in charge, attention will turn to the club’s next move as they look to appoint a successor and maintain their ambitions for the remainder of the season.

Highbury are yet to announce who will take charge of the team following Vilakazi’s exit.