IT’S E360 000 SIGNING-ON-FEE FOR ‘PUPU’

MBABANE – Lavishly talented Mbabane Swallows midfielder Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze’s eagerly-awaited move to South Africa’s Polokwane City will come with a sweetener of a E360 000 signing-on-fee.

Jersey number 11 will receive the signing-on-fee when he joins ‘Rise and Shine’, as Polokwane City are affectionately known, on a three-year contract on July 1.

The Times Sports Desk has reliably gathered that Sikhondze will be paid a monthly salary of E50 000.
“It’s a done deal. He is joining Polokwane City on July 1 for pre-season after they agreed on his personal terms, which is the signing-on-fee and the monthly salary. The offer is almost the same as the one that was presented by Bidvest Wits,” a source, who was part of the deal, said.

The source further stated that Bidvest Wits lost out on the talented midfielder when they reneged on the earlier agreement, preferring to sign him on a six-month loan deal first rather than signing him outright.

“It was felt, perhaps they were not too convinced that he will make the grade, hence they wanted a six-month loan deal yet Polokwane City were signing him on a three year deal. So in the end, the offer by Polokwane City made more sense,” the source added.
Interviewed yesterday, en elated Sikhondze, who turns 22 today, confirmed he was happy with his personal terms with the ABSA premiership outfit, and will be joining them on July 1.

“I think the signing-on-fee of E360 000 is good and the salary is good too. Polokwane City showed more interest than Wits and I could not resist joining them,” he said.

Sikhondze said he was more concerned about proving himself in the money-spinning ABSA Premiership so that he could realise his long-cherished dream of playing overseas.

“It has always been my dream to play in a bigger league overseas, and I know I can make it if I continue to work hard. It’s all about hard work,” the twinkled-toed midfielder added. Asked on being overlooked by the national team selectors, Sikhondze said it was a blessing in disguise.

“It does not bother me one bit, I know what I am capable of. I cannot select myself into the national team. In the end, I think it was a blessing in disguise, as I have had time to rest before I move to Polokwane City in July,” Sikhondze said.

Mbabane Swallows General Manager Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane, while confirming Polokwane City had paid the transfer fee of E360 000, said the player’s personal terms were confidential and as a club they would release details pertaining to the transfer of Sikhondze to the Limpopo-based outfit in due course.

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