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RED BULL!

23/10/2020 08:14:00 BY CHRIS DLAMINI

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EZULWINI – ‘Faka imali uzobona’ (Money makes the world go round).

This was the statement made by Mbabane Highlanders’ South African Director Chief Ally Kgomongwe yesterday when he unveiled former Mbabane Swallows personnel in just a space of three days. First, it was striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa who was unveiled on Tuesday with midfielder Xolani ‘Papi’ Sikhondze and physical trainer/assistant coach Siyabonga Bhembe yesterday.

Highlanders had also tried to sign Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu and Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze but the former settled with his initial employers before he joined Mbombela United in South Africa where he played last season.

The latter is yet to find a new home but is sought by Manzini Wanderers and Swallows. Bhembe resigned at Swallows on Tuesday morning, saying the management committee knew the reasons as he apologised to the red and white side’s President, Archbishop Bheki Lukhele.

“The giant is awake. My message is clear that the giant is awake. We’re busy recruiting and we’re very happy to get the assistant coach who will work as a trainer also and be a father to our players. We’re again very happy to have a man like him who’s going to bring a lot of development in our beloved Highlanders.

Happy

“Some of us are honest with the team and we’ll remain honest. And then I’m very happy because when you know football, we have a player called Papi who was playing for Highlanders and he’s here to close the gap at the back,” Kgomongwe said in his remarks.

He said this was an achievement for them and now they were going to bring a ‘bullet striker’ from South Africa and Bhembe will come in handy in that aspect, following his GladAfrica experience at Mbombela United where he was assistant coach last season.

Sikhondze signed for a year with the option to renew, Ndzinisa was given two years (E100 000 signing-on fee) while Bhembe signed for two years for a E15 000 monthly salary.

Sikhondze’s signing-on fee was confirmed to be E40 000. He spent last season in Mozambique’s giant team, Group Desportivo Maputo FC, where he handed his resignation letter on Wednesday morning.

Questioned on how he attracted interest from most players now, Kgomongwe responded, “Faka imali uzobona” which loosely translates to ‘splash the cash and you’ll see or money makes the world go round’.

“It’s true that I am hearing of many players wanting to join us. I am happy because it shows that my team is happy too and they see that. This is a new Highlanders and we won’t be stopped or captured by anyone.”