Times Of Swaziland: SAMBA READY TO JIVE AGAIN FOR ‘BIRDS’

SAMBA READY TO JIVE AGAIN FOR ‘BIRDS’
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Machawe Fakudze on 22/02/2022 09:01:00


MBABANE – He will be jiving the Samba in the red and white colours of Mbabane
Swallows again.
That is veteran midfielder Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko, who has dusted his
soccer boots after he retired before the start of the current 2021/22 MTN
Premier League season. The former South Africa’s Black Leopards player said he
would be registering with the red and white capital city giants when the second
registration window opened. The second registration window will open on March 7,
2022. “I will be registering with the team as this is the plan we had with the
coaches, I am ready to play and I am looking forward to playing again,” Nhleko
said.
He also said he would play until his body could no longer carry him, as he felt
fit enough to continue playing the sport he loved the most. “I can’t say the
exact time when I will retire, but for now I will push until my body feels
exhausted, I still have what it takes to play at top level,” he said.
camp
Nhleko did not want to comment on the new selected national team squad,
Sihlangu, which went to full-time camp yesterday at Lobamba Technical Centre in
preparation of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers against Somalia. “Let
me reserve my comments on the selection of Sihlangu, please my brother,” he
politely requested. The 40-year-old player is one of Eswatini’s most decorated
and experienced players, who has played for a number of South African teams,
including Black Leopards, Platinum Stars, Blackburn Rovers and Honover Park.
Locally, he also played for Gege Happy Stars, Denver Sundowns and Malanti Chiefs
locally. The right winger was promoted to the development side of Mbabane
Swallows at the beginning of the season, but did not hide the fact that he still
wanted to play.