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TONY, ‘SIKHALI’ IN E12K LEAGUE’S BEST RACE

30/07/2021 08:49:00 BY SANELE JELE

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EZULWINI – They are now contenders for the prestigious MTN Premier League Player of the Series Award.

This award carries a lump sum of E12 000 and E9 000 for the National First Division League. The duo of Mbabane Highlanders striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa and Mbabane Swallows winger Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze, who is aged 36 years now but younger than his teammate Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko, who is the league’s oldest player at 41 years, were yesterday deservedly announced the best players for the months of June and July respectively. They both have been doing well for their clubs and scoring very important goals while inspiring their teammates in the process. Sikhali is currently also chasing the Top Goal Scorer Award as he currently has 16 goals to 18 by leading Young Buffaloes striker Phiwayinkhosi ‘Slwabelwabe’ Dlamini.

Meanwhile, Tsabedze has scored nine goals and has been in fine form in the last three matches, netting five in two matches before they lost 2-0 to leaders Royal Leopard on Wednesday afternoon at KaLanga Technical Centre. These include a hat-trick and a brace. Interestingly, national team Sihlangu Semnikati selectors ignored him ahead of this year’s COSAFA Cup in which Eswatini finished with a bronze over a week ago in South Africa while the former national skipper was first left out by Serbian coach Kostadin Papic, who had however, called up younger players like Rio Matsenjwa and Muzi Tsabedze among others. Tsabedze has from that period been the subject for debate among fans, some saying its fine he lets the younger players get their chance while others felt he was needed to guide the team especially because he was performing beyond most of the elite stars’ level and oozed class – Portugal are still captained by 36-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo who continues to be the world’s best alongside Lionel Messi.

By virtue of winning the Player of the Month gong, it makes them candidates for the league’s best player award. Previous winners this season are April’s best player Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini (Leopard) and Buffaloes’ Slwabelwabe among others. The latter also scooped the first round best player incentive and was able to add to his goals tally in the midweek fixtures. In the National First Division League, leaders Vovovo’s Mancoba Vilakati and Rangers’ Sandile Thwala were also declared June and July winners respectively. They will compete for the E9 000 Player of the Year gong with Vovovo’s Senzelwe ‘Vardy’ Dlamini, Young Movers’ Sambulo Simelane and Mbabane Citizens’ Sandile ‘Onyango’ Dlamini, who scooped the best player award for the first round in this division.

Talking to ‘Sikhali’ who has had to endure a tough period as three clubs protested (all failed before the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Disciplinary Committee) against his eligibility to play football when he was banned for two years by a South African Football Association Tribunal last season while at Mbombela United, he said he was happy with the recognition. “This motivates me to work even harder and as for the top goalscorer, it’s not over yet as I can still topple Phiwa,” said Ndzinisa. His former Swallows teammate, Tsabedze, said this should also motivate the up and coming young players. “For me, this is a result of discipline and hardwork. I can urge young players out there to keep working harder and they would get the recognition. Age is just a number, they must keep pushing,” said Tsabedze.

Fit

The former SuperSport United winger is 36 years old but plays as if he was just 17 years, a Cristiano Ronaldo of Eswatini to some extent as they are both fit and going strong to date. Meanwhile, in the June edition, ‘Sikhali’ was competing with two other players in Swallows’ Tsabedze and Royal Leopard’s Junior Magagula. In the July edition, Tsabedze was competing with Buffaloes’ Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze and Leopard’s Junior. Announcing the June and July winners was Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Executive Committee member Charles Matsebula yesterday at the MTN Headquarters, who also congratulated the winners.