‘BIRDS’ SPHA IMPRESSES SA PLATINUM STARS!

MBABANE – Star players Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa and Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze are not the only hot property at Mbabane Swallows but defender Siphamandla Matsenjwa as well.

The South African defender and Castle Premier Challenge Player of the Series, who had been rock solid for Swallows in the past two seasons, appeared for Platinum Stars yesterday in the Maize Cup tournament held in Orkney at the James Motlotsi Stadium.

Platinum Stars or Dikwena played against Free State Stars and lost 0-1 through a 10th minute strike by Sinethemba Jantjie. Matsenjwa was in the starting line-up wearing jersey 28 and gave a splendid performance to impress Swazi-born assistant coach Milton Dlamini.
This is only four days after Swallows played to a 2-all draw with Platinum Stars in Rustenburg in the final game of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage. Worth mentioning is that Matsenjwa was also up against his former teammate at Swallows in striker Mike Mohammed Anas whose effort midway through the first stanza was cleared off the goal line by defender Ryan De Jongh otherwise it would have been 2-0. Free State went to lose to Kaizer Chiefs.

“We were assessing him after we got permission from his club. It’s unfortunate Sikhali and Pupu didn’t come as this was a good chance for them. Spha got his chance and played the full match. From what we saw he is okay,” he said.
Questioned further, Dlamini said, “He’s an okay player. All he needs to do now is adapt to PSL style but we will assist him get there. We’re training with him again next week and that is when he will also know our decision otherwise he did good in today’s (yesterday) match.

On Swallows saying if they want Sikhali and Pupu they must sign them outright, he said that was how their team wanted it and they cannot go against that.
“Swallows have the right to say we must buy outright but this chance would have helped them and moving to PSL would see them become role models to upcoming youngsters. I hope they will be afforded the chance to come here because I know them no doubt, but my coach must also see them too,” he said.

He said it was unfortunate that time was running out as the PSL league season is set to resume in three weeks’ time. Swallows General Manager Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane, when reached, said he did not watch the games and besides, he was focussed on the national team Sihlangu’s match against Zambia today.

He asked to be contacted after the Sihlangu match for comments on Matsenjwa’s imminent transfer. The club’s boss, Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze was also reached and conceded that their defender was with Dikwena but at the time he was called, he was watching the repeat of the match.

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