Times Of Swaziland: ‘SIKHALI’, EDWIN MTN’S BEST

‘SIKHALI’, EDWIN MTN’S BEST
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Machawe Fakudze on 29/07/2022 09:32:00


MATSAPHA – Mbabane Highlanders marksman Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa has
emerged as the last player standing in the 2021/22 MTN Premier League season.
After scoring 23 goals to help Highlanders  finish as runners-up and by
extension earning a spot in Africa’s second-tier inter-club football
tournament styled TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, the  Sihlangu forward
shook off  Leopard midfielder Junior Magagula in the race for the E15 000 prize.
The enterprising Leopard midfielder equally proved to be a hot contender for the
top award after starring in Leopard’s successful title defence but fell short
again. This transpired during a glittering MTN Premier League prize giving held
at Esibayeni Lodge in Matsapha last night.
Guests in last night’s festivities were headlined by Minister of Sports,
Culture and Youth Affairs representative Mabulala Maseko, who dubbed MTN
Eswatini as a true and outstanding partner of local football. The substantive
minister in Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga is currently away in Birmingham, United
Kingdom, for the Commonwealth Games.
Worth mentioning is that this is not the first Player of the Season award for
‘Sikhali’. He first won it back on May 17, 2012, after starring in his first
season (2011/12) in top flight football and by that time he was a Form V pupil
in one of the schools in Shiselweni. Also winning big was Royal Leopard gaffer
Edwin Matsebula who tightened his grip on the award after steering the police
side to their eighth MTN Premier League title early last month.
Meanwhile, Mbabane Swallows Marketing and Communications Manager Mancoba Mabuza
and  Highlanders shot-stopper Khanyakezwe Shabalala also made stops on the
podium to claim the best Public Relations Officer and outstanding goalkeeper
accolades, in that order. Relegated rookies, Rangers, on the other hand, proved
to the best behaved team in the league and claimed the Fair Play Award. Best
referee, on the other hand, was Celumusa Siphepho who pocketed E7 000. Banele
Tfwala, was named the best assistant. In the National First Division, Sandile
‘Mshina’ Dlamini was the outstanding player after guiding Sevens Dreams to
the Premier League.