CELTIC OFFER FOR FELIX, ‘SIKHALI’

MBABANE – Contrary to reports that Mbabane Swallows and national team Sihlangu stars failed trials at South Africa’s Bloemfontein Celtic, the club is pushing for the duo’s signatures after impressing coach Serame Letsoaka.

Felix Badenhorst and Sabelo ‘Sikhali Ndzinisa were away for three weeks, only returning home last Monday evening. The headline in this newspaper that greeted them the next morning screamed ‘Brilliant Felix fits our game – SA Celtic’ - and this gave most Swazis hope that they passed.

It was the Celtic coach who had commended the players, and told this publication that they deserved contracts with his team.
However a day later, South Africa’s soccer magazine Kick Off reported they had failed the trials. Soon after these comments, Swallows coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati was quoted in KickOff.com as blaming Celtic for failing the players, while also attributing part of it to players’ agents also doing some dirty work.

It turns out that Serame recommended that the team go out of their way to land the forwards and it is doing just that. He wants the former Jomo Cosmos’ Felix, while Sikhali would be making his PSL debut if all goes well.
“You must never believe everything you read. It’s always best to get it from us and I can tell you, those boys will play for Celtic. Their team gave us their asking offer, and I believe it is only a matter of time before an agreement is reached, but I want them here,” Letsoaka said yesterday.

He insisted they liked the players very much and remained hopeful for a deal to be reached, which would see them cross the border to play in the cash-spinning Premier Soccer League (PSL).
When asked what the chances were for them to visit the country to see the players in competition, he responded: “Me and my technical team will also see what we can do to come down to Swaziland to see them play in the Charity Cup.”
Questioned on speculation that they may be considering a loan move for the players, he wouldn’t be drawn into specific answers, but insisted that talks were ongoing between the two clubs and that only time would tell if an agreement is reached.

It is understood, through sources, that Celtic have been in contact with Swallows boss Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze after he gave them their asking price for both stars. However, efforts to get his comment failed. It can be reported though, with authority, that Celtic must better their offer if they are serious about the players.
Swallows acting CEO Sibusiso Manana said he was not aware of the latest as the last he read was they failed the trials.

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