BIRDS’ CHARITY CUP SUCCESS FOR WANDERERS – ‘KOKI’

EZULWINI – The Eswatini Charity Cup 2019 first roadshow was in this fast-developing small town opposite Corner Plaza yesterday at OK Foods inside Valley View.

With some of the eight clubs involved this year from the play-offs to the main tournament on August 11 bringing their players and coaches as well as their public relations officers (PROs), things got interesting when it turned out that Manzini Wanderers were represented by their head coach, Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati, in the officials’ section and his former club and defending champions Mbabane Swallows had their doctor, Samkeliso Mdluli.

Each of them spoke on behalf of their clubs at the event. Mdluli was first to go.
“We are grateful to EPTC for this great tournament that improves the lives of many underprivileged people in the country. As Swallows, we want to say that you must pack the stadium because we’ve won the last two titles and this time we’ll make it three in a row and take it for keeps permanently. We won’t let anything stand in our way,” he said.

consecutive titles

However, Mdluli seemed to have forgotten that when they achieved the consecutive titles, Vilakati was the head coach and manager. The latter was next on the microphone and his choice of words sounded like a correction to others in the roadshow with a few overheard he ‘was right’.

Vilakati said: “I’m wearing two coats today, one for Wanderers and the other my employer EPTC. I need to say it that I have heard them speak before me but I must also state that the Swallows success in this tournament, I was part of.

“They say they have won it twice and will win it for the third time but I’m turning all that success to Wanderers now,” said Vilakati.
He then encouraged the people of Ezulwini to support the cause as it helped every liSwati directly and indirectly. He also appealed on the theft of copper and urged members of the public to ensure the criminals were apprehended.

message

This was also a message sent across by Mbabane Highlanders Communications Officer Bhekisisa Dlamini and his assistant Paul ‘Magidz’eludzakeni’ Masilela, Royal Leopard’s Frank Hurube and Manzini Sea Birds’ London Dlamini among others. Green Mamba were also one of the clubs in attendance while Young Buffaloes were missing.

Worth mentioning is that the clubs declared war on each other, with all promising to take the title away from Swallows, who themselves insisted on making it a treble, come August 11. That is the day there will be four teams left to fight for the title, all in one day and the thousands of fans will know who is on top. The slogan is ‘Yam’ Nawe, Se’sphakeme Futsi’ and the champions will proudly shout it out loud.

Meanwhile, the roadshow did not have the best turnout but still attracted a number of people with some watching by the road side while some came in to even record videos of performances by Shongwe and Khuphuka Gospel Group and Dynamic Groovers, who are a boys’ group as well as former Cyborg Girls member Thandeka Msibi.

Also present were the tournament ambassadors in renowned local soccer stars being Highlanders’ ex-captain Xolani ‘Chocco’ Sibandze, now with Sea Birds, Mbabane Swallows’ captain Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze, Wanderers’ Menzi Gamedze and Sicelo ‘Junior’ Simelane.

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