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KWAKHE ‘Y’ELLO’S FINEST FOR APRIL

08/05/2023 08:14:00 Mengameli Mabuza

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MBABANE – Simply the best.

Capital City giants Mbabane Swallows’ versatile player, Kwakhe Thwala was yesterday presented with the Player of the Month award for April. The award presented to the former Young Buffaloes player has seen supporters reacting differently on social media pages, mainly Facebook. The accolade carries a E6 000 prize. “I’m happy for the recognition. It was a team effort ,” he said after being presented with the accolade at Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday. The Times Sports Desk zooms in on all the players who left a mark during the period under review.

Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze (Young Buffaloes)
‘Saviola’ continues being the talk of town in the MTN league. He is the man of the hour and the hot property in Eswatini top flight football. While he has been on an amazing run of form, scoring over 75 goals since the 2019/20 season; the latter has not yet reached his peak. The arrival of Njabulo Maziya from Madlenya FC has seen the Eswatini international being deployed into the box-to-box position, playing with Siboniso ‘Gaxa’ Ngwenya and Bongiswa Dlamini in the star-studded Buffaloes midfield position dominated by a galaxy of stars. The former Madlenya FC player has been instrumental in Amathole Ezinyathi’s four league games against Royal Leopard, Tambuti, Manzini Wanderers and Mbabane Swallows. He ended with five league goals in the past month and they include an impressive hat-trick against Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe-led hub giants. The Buffaloes main man now has 13 league goals after starting the season battling with injuries and is without any major doubt one player who should have been presented the lucrative award.

Kwakhe Thwala (Mbabane Swallows)
The Umkhonto KaShaka versatile player has been one of the best buys of the season for the Caleb Ngwenya-led team that is still dreaming of playing in Africa. The former Buffaloes left-back, who now plays as a defensive midfielder for Swallows, has proved to be one of the best players for Swallows in the past month, winning almost every midfield duel against teams and also cutting out any threat from opposition attack. He was ever present in the ‘Birds’ four league games, which among others, in the derby where he was a huge candidate for the man of the match accolade, was later given to Highlanders’ cool, calm and collected grafter Mpendulo Tfomo. The midfield general who continues to do Swallows’ dirty work finished the past month with a goal, which was scored against Tambankulu Callies in what was Swallows’ biggest score line this season at Prince of Wales Sports Ground. Swallows annihilated the Lubombo-based side by 6-0.

Mthunzi ‘Xavi’ Mkhontfo (Green Mamba)
The former DR Congo’s AS Vita player continues to be one of the key players for Ernest Mavuso’s side in the current season, which is proving to be his best in the league. Xavi works tirelessly in the middle of the park and the past month has seen him scoring in Inyoka Eluhlazane 3-1 home win against Moneni Pirates in a crucial match that made the Correctional Services side stay as the frontrunners for the MTN Premier League title.

Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu (Green Mamba)
The former Mbabane Swallows strong defensive midfielder has been able to shake off injuries and play an integral part in Inyoka Eluhlazane’s strong title push. ‘D4D’ has been amazing in the centre circle, playing with Khethokuhle Mkhontfo and the intelligent Mthunzi Mkhontfo to cause damage against opposition teams. The midfielder had a great month, scoring two crucial goals in his side’s 3-1 win over Moneni Pirates.

Mlamuli ‘Mlaba’ Nkambule (Manzini Wanderers)
The Manzini Wanderers versatile player has been an instrumental key figure in Wanderers’ surviving relegation in what was going to be a sad moment for Eswatini football. ‘Mlaba’, who has played almost every position for the maroon and white ensamble, has proven to be a great ambassador for the club; leading from the back, ever present in the Wanderers midfield position and was able to score a crucial winner against Tambankulu Callies at Mavuso Sports Centre over a week ago. ‘Mlaba’, as he is fondly known, has shown his maturity and together with Sitali Nyambe had a great month for the Weslians.