Times Of Swaziland: LEOPARD AFTER BIRDS’ ‘PUPU’

LEOPARD AFTER BIRDS’ ‘PUPU’
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BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO on 28/09/2021 08:25:00


MBABANE – Royal Leopard are eager to strengthen their squad ahead of the
season kick-off and the CAF inter-club competitions group stages.
The police side is reportedly after the signature of Mbabane Swallows attacking
midfielder Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze while also chasing highly rated
Zimbabwean striker Russel Madamombe. A source close to the matter confirmed that
some officials from Leopard have already approached Mbabane Swallows over the
services of the former international player. “Leopard are looking at
strengthening their squad, especially for the CAF competitions. They want
players with experience and some of their officials have already approached
Swallows over Pupu and the negotiations are expected to start soon if Mbabane
Swallows allows the talk,” said the source.
Sikhondze, who is a brother to Mbabane Highlanders midfielder Colani ‘Papi’
Sikhondze and former Royal Leopard player Musa Sikhondze, re-joined Mbabane
Swallows at the start of the season from South Africa’s Mbombela United. In
South Africa, he has played for teams including Polokwane City and Mbombela
United while in the country he had played for clubs including hub giants,
Manzini Wanderers and Denver Sundowns. Leopard Public Relations Officer (PRO)
Frank Hurube said Sikhondze is a Mbabane Swallows player and they respect that.
He said the player was contracted to Swallows and he feels it is wrong to
comment on other teams’ players. “I am not aware of the matter concerning
the player. I won’t comment further over the player as he belongs to Mbabane
Swallows and we respect them as a club so we cannot talk about their players,”
he said.
Sikhondze is not among the five players that were released by the red and white
outfit including Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko, Sanele Mkhweli, Nhlanhla
‘Jive’ Nkosi, Simanga Shongwe and Allen Mabuza. Leopard will be allowed to
boost their squad for the CAF competitions if they reach the group stages of
both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup. Meanwhile, Leopard
are also praying to land the signature of Zimbabwean forward Russel Madamombe,
who is already in the country and training with the club. If he signs, he will
be second international player for the police side after South African striker
Thabiso Mokenkoane who signed for Leopard from Mbabane Highlanders two seasons
ago.