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ZAMBIA’S NAPSA STARS’ E2.4M DEAL FOR LINDO

11/01/2021 08:26:00 Sanele Jele

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MBABANE – From an average player to Sihlangu captain.

In 2017, when he got his first national team call-up, he seemed like an average player to a lot of people. That is the story of Young Buffaloes’ right-back and Sihlangu Captain Lindo Mkhonta, who within three years since that call-up has been a household name in Eswatini football. Mkhonta’s impressive rise to fame has seen him getting recognition even from outside the borders of this country. This comes after it emerged that the hard-working right-back has been offered a three-year deal, reportedly worth E2.4 million by Zambia’s soccer giants Napsa Stars who ironically are currently involved in the CAF Confederation Cup where Buffaloes will be competing.

The Mohamed Fathi-coached Zambian side, are said to have offered Mkhonta E300 000 signing-on fee and E45 000 monthly salary. A quick calculation of the E300 000 signing-on fee plus the E45 000 salary over the three years tallies to E2 460 000. According to information sourced from Zambia’s Daily Mail, Napsa Stars in 2017 made a salary offer of E38 000 for Ungandan striker Jimmy Bageya. It is also a striking coincidence that former Mbabane Swallows’ coach Honour Janza holds the position of Technical Director (TD) at the Zambian side.
Janza coached Swallows during the 2019/2020 season before joining Stars and the Zambian side has been drawn against Kenya’s Gor Mahia in the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs.

demanded

Sources close to the matter revealed that Buffaloes demanded E450 000 for the player, which Stars are finding it difficult to meet at the moment. This has, however, not stopped them from recruiting the player, who is highly regarded by Janza. This publication has it in good authority that on October 16, 2020, Stars wrote to Buffaloes requesting the services of the defender.
“We write inviting your player Lindo Mkhonta to Zambia to join our club Napsa Stars Football. We are greatly looking forward to seeing him play for our club which is competing in the Zambia Premier League and CAF Confederation Cup competitions,” read part of the letter which had the signature of Janza. Reached for comment, Mkhonta confirmed receiving the offer.