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I’VE NOT BEEN MYSELF – ‘SIKHALI’

19/06/2020 07:19:00 BY CHRIS DLAMINI

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MBABANE – The former Mbabane Swallows and senior national team, Sihlangu Seminkati star Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa nearly quit the game due to a life-threatening head injury.

It took around more or less E700 000 to have him fixed and nearly two full seasons to recover before he returned to the game towards the end of last season, only to score one goal for his club.
The South African GladAfrica Championship side, Mbombela United striker sustained the injury in 2017 in a game against Mbabane Highlanders at Somhlolo National Stadium.

Ndzinisa was interviewed by South Africa’s Soccer Laduma in their latest issue which is already on sale.
In the interview with Thomas Kwenaite, he touches on various issues including his post-injury life, return to the game, Sihlangu selection, COVID-19 effects on his life, the impact that Swallows’ boss Victor Gamedze’s murder had in the club, his medical experience and latest FIFA rules for COVID-19 among other things while revealing he told Swallows he was quitting football after the injury.

position

“Considering our position in the league with Mbombela, we did not get called up in the two games of the 2021 AFCON Qualifiers and it has been deeply frustrating for me personally. It hurts because I am proud to represent my country whenever the opportunity presents itself.

“But I am honest enough to accept that I have not been doing too well and thus cannot expect the selectors to bend the rules and give me special treatment.
“We must all compete to convince the national team coach to select us based on merit irrespective of your reputation,” he said as the forward has not been the regular the goal scorer he was before his injury.

He is the same player that caught the eye of several South African sides when he scored four goals in a stunning comeback win at Somhlolo National Stadium during the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup match to see the red and white win 4-2. However, he ended up at Mbombela United.
Ndzinisa said in the interview that the death of Gamedze nearly brought Tinyoni to its knees and things changed thereafter leading to key players leaving the club.