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‘BIRDS’ SWEEP THE BOARDS

16/06/2017 04:30:00 BY ASHMOND NZIMA

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MBABANE – Mbabane Swallows quicksilver striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa will smile all the way to the bank for starring in the recently-ended season.

The burly forward, who netted 19 unmatched league goals for the invincible ‘Beautiful Birds’ in the MTN Premier League, was named the outstanding player for the 2016/17 campaign in last night’s glittering award ceremony at Royal Swazi Convention Centre in Ezulwini.
The ‘man of the moment’ pocketed a total of E E24 000 as he also scooped two Player of the Month awards worth E4 500 each.

For being the Player of the Season, ‘Sikhali’ walked away with E9 000. His predatory instincts, which saw him scoring eight more goals than the winners in the past season, earned him an extra E6 000.
The top goalscorer award was shared by three players in the past season, namely; Lungelo Tsabedze, Phinda ‘Phindrix’ Dlamini and Sandile Hlatshwako. Tsabedze, who was at Mbabane Highlanders at the time, also emerged as the league’s outstanding player. He now plays for Royal Leopard.

The gifted striker, who is a now attracting interest across the continent, stressed that he always wanted to shine when he donned his team’s famed jersey.
“This is for my teammates who always assist me to shine,” said the player.
Asked if he felt he deserved to play outside the country, he said he could only prove by shining at the new team.

The glamour expectedly swept the boards as team gaffer, Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati, who steered his troops to 60 points with no defeat in 22 matches, also made a stop on the podium to claim the Coach of the Season accolade. The award was won by Midas City’s Caleb Ngwenya in the past season, as his charges celebrated a historic fifth place finish.
“I didn’t expect to win the award.

“I dedicate it to the entire Mbabane Swallows. My target is to defend it,” said Vilakati.
Meanwhile, it was an emotional moment when the winner of the best PRO award was announced. It was won by the late Swallows CEO, Sibusiso Manana, who succumbed to an undisclosed sickness on May 5 this year. The winner for the previous campaign was Royal Leopard’s Frank Hurube.