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MBABANE – Former South Africa’s Jomo Cosmos assistant coach Siza ‘King Pele’ Dlamini believes most Eswatini players struggle to make it in the professional South African football leagues due to lack of discipline and respect.

‘King Pele’ is one of the only few local players to have not only earned professional contracts in the South Africa Premier Soccer League (PSL) but hoisted the country’s flag on-and-off the-field. The former Sihlangu star striker first made a name for himself at Swallows after he was signed from Pigg’s Peak Bush Bucks, establishing himself as one of the finest strikers in the country.

His goal-scoring instincts, which would make a lion that has gone days without food, green with envy, did not go unnoticed. International scouts soon came calling and he was snapped up by Umtata Bush Bucks who were then competing in the PSL in South Africa. He did not stay long there as he moved to Jomo Cosmos after winning the heart of the club’s owner, Jomo Sono.

It was at Cosmos where he curved a big name for himself, scoring memorable goals for the Johannesburg based outfit, impressing Sono so much with his commitment and discipline that Sono drafted him into the technical bench upon his retirement. Currently, he is Swallows’ physical trainer and remains one of the most-capped Sihlangu players.

In an interview, the free-speaking ‘King Pele’ said the secret to success for any player in South Africa is respect and discipline. He observed that most local players who get the chance to play in that country but fail to rise to the top, have only themselves to blame.

“First and foremost, it all starts with the background of a player, where he comes from and how he was raised at a young age because those traits usually determine how successful he will be in South Africa. If you want to make it in South Africa, then you have to be clear about your ambitions and goals because some go there for fame and money.

I was very fortunate because I had a passion for football and it was not all about money. From my time at Bush Bucks and Swallows, I have always wanted to be the best player from my area,” Dlamini said. 

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