Young Africans Sports Club have terminated the contract of head coach Romain Folz, just hours after a shocking defeat to Malawi’s Silver Strikers in the CAF Champions League on Saturday afternoon at Bingu National Stadium.
Folz’s time at the helm of Yanga SC lasted only three months, having been appointed on July 23, 2025. During his short tenure, the French coach oversaw just five competitive matches, two league games and three Champions League fixtures.
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In a statement released shortly after the defeat in Malawi, the club announced the decision to part ways with their head coach. “The management of Young Africans Sports Club would like to inform the public that it has terminated the contract of its Head Coach, Romain Folz,” the statement read.
“The management of Yanga SC thanks Coach Romain Folz for his contribution to the club and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.”
The 35-year-old Frenchman has had an extensive coaching career across multiple continents. In 2018, Folz was appointed manager of American side West Virginia United. The following year, he was appointed assistant manager of Uganda’s national team before moving to Egypt as assistant manager of Pyramids FC.
Folz then moved to West Africa, where he managed Bechem United in Ghana in 2020, followed by a stint with compatriots Ashanti Gold in 2021. He also served as assistant manager of Niort in France during this period.
His career in Southern Africa began in 2021 when he took charge of Township Rollers in Botswana. In 2022, he moved to South Africa for the first time as manager of Marumo Gallants, becoming the youngest manager in the Premier Division. He later managed AmaZulu from 2022 until 2023, before being redeployed as technical director in April 2023.
Folz briefly moved to Guinea to manage Horoya AC in August 2023 before returning to South Africa. In July 2024, he joined Mamelodi Sundowns as an assistant coach but was relieved of his duties on December 10, 2024, before joining Yanga in July 2025.
Former Malawi national team head coach Patrick Mabedi will now lead Yanga SC in the absence of a permanent head coach as the club continues its search for a replacement. Mabedi, who previously had a stint with South African giants Kaizer Chiefs, was appointed as assistant coach just last week, becoming the second Malawian coach to lead Yanga after the late Jack Chamangwana.
“In the meantime, the team will be under Assistant Coach Patrick Mabedi, while the process of finding a new head coach continues,” the club statement confirmed.
The defeat to TNM Super League champions Silver Strikers proved to be the final straw for Yanga’s management, who acted swiftly to make the coaching change as they seek to salvage their continental campaign.
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