MABILA, ‘PAPI’ BLOW FOR ‘BIRDS’

MBABANE – They fix one trouble and another one emerges. That is the sad tale of Mbabane Swallows who have a mammoth task tonight in Tunisia as they face Etoile Du Sahel, one time TOTAL CAF Champions League winners in the group stage of the tournament. The match is scheduled for 9pm.

It’s the second leg after last Tuesday’s first leg at Mavuso Sports Centre saw the red and white side lose 3-0 to the Tunisia outfit. They now must fight for a point away and then force a win against Zesco United at home and then be away to Angola’s Club Desportivo next month.

Their task tonight looks gloomy – news that experienced defender Sifiso Mabila and striker Simanga Shongwe are not so positive. The duo has both played the CAF matches from the Confederation Cup last year. They did not even travel with the club when it left the country on Tuesday morning. As if that was not enough, Swallows could be without the services of new defensive midfielder Xolani ‘Papi’ Sikhondze who by close of business yesterday had still not been cleared by Mbabane Citizens.

The trio’s absence will leave coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati with little option at the back and in attack as much as he is expected to take a defensive approach in the match. Head of delegation in Tunisia, acting PLS Chairman Peter ‘Touch’ Magagula confirmed their absence.
“Yes, he is not here and Simanga,” he texted on WhatsApp.

The team’s General Manager Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane’s response through Magagula was that Mabila had to stay behind due to injury. No reasons were given about Shongwe at the time of going to print. As for Papi, it was a matter of Swallows and Citizens reaching common ground early yesterday but by close of business, nothing had been resolved.

On the positive, Vilakati will have debutant striker Aladeon Kola for the first time since he signed his three months contract that has been running since June 1 until August 31. He is set to team up with Sandile Hlatshwako upfront and have the option of Daniel Atakorah and youngster Sizolwethu Shabalala on the bench.
Defender Siboniso Ndzabandzaba whose international experience only comes from the national team Sihlangu will certainly get the nod with Mabila absent. Ndzabandzaba will also be a debutant in this match after joining from Tambuti. Both Ndzabandzaba and Kola were by yesterday after lunch fully registered with CAF and confirmed in the organisation’s website.

Efforts to get Shongwe proved futile as his cell phone was unavailable and had not been on WhatsApp since Wednesday while Mabila confirmed he was injured,
“I have an ankle injury which cost me the game,” he said.

Swallows will have to make do with the squad they took to Tunisia to be led by Captain Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze, Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko, Mandla Palma, Sanele Mkhweli and Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu who have been there always. They lost Felix Badenhorst who played first leg and goalkeeper Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza to Mbombela United while Mkhweli is due to join TS Sporting in South Africa’s National First Division soon.

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