‘FOOTBALL HELPED MY MUM WITH FEES’

Once a Pirate, always a Pirate. This best describes Moneni Pirates’ long-serving Captain and centre back Menzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane’s passion for the club. He was groomed by his current club at a tender age and joined their under-13s and 15s before he started senior football in Bhunya while also playing at school. The former Mbabane Swallows defender is one who is brave, has a big heart and has made his mistakes on and off the field, but he is still one of the coolest and good-to-know players in the country’s elite football – very friendly and sociable. Below, he shares a little about himself and his career;

1. Who is Menzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane and where are you from in very few words?

Menzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane is a very humble down to earth person from Khalangilile under Ntontozi Inkhundla (Manzini).

2. Share your football background to the present time briefly.

I started playing football at a tender age, playing for Moneni Pirates under 13s and 15s before joining Sappi Lusitano in the Bhunya Promotion League. I also played for my school team at St. John Bosco since Form 1 and I got my breakthrough when I was doing Form III. That is when we were playing the KFC Cup, which we won and I was recruited by Mbabane Swallows and I played for four years there before joining Moneni Pirates.

3. What has football as a sport done for you that you can say is a lifetime treasure?

Football has helped me to complete school. I was raised by a single parent, my mother was unemployed so football did the job for her and me.

4. Your thoughts about education and sporting talent? 

Education is the key my brother so, my advice to football players is that they should take education seriously while they enjoy the sport.

5. What has kept you at Moneni Pirates for so long?

It is nothing but the love I have for the team and our supporters.....and the love of grooming players to be better people tomorrow.

6. Which has been your best game for Pirates and which was your worst?

My best game was against Manzini Wanderers in the 2015 EswatiniBank Cup final and my worst game, it was against Malanti Chiefs when we lost 5-1.

7. Pirates lost a number of key players this season but found a new director. Do you think you can compete and do you see improvements from the director?

Yes, we lost a number of key players and luckily we found a director to help us get good players as their replacements. With the players we are looking to sign, I can say we can compete. So far we still haven’t met and spoken with the director as players but we are looking forward to it so he gives us this season’s mandate.

8. Your message to the young and upcoming athlete?

My message to them is that for them to last in whatever sport they are doing they should work hard, be determined, dedicated and disciplined. Talent alone is never enough, respect will take you places.

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