‘BIRDS’ E100K OFFER FOR ‘SIKHALI’

MBABANE – It seems Mbabane Highlanders might struggle to tighten their grip on their prized asset in marksman Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa.

The Sihlangu forward, who scored 23 goals for his team in the past season, is heavily linked with a return to Highlanders’ traditional rivals Mbabane Swallows. An impeccable source shared that Swallows were reportedly dangling a E100 000 signing-on fee to the player on a top of a E15 000 monthly salary and a two-year contract.

He is reportedly earning E17 000 per month at Highlanders, where he had also signed a two-year contract that is expiring this month. “Swallows have already met the player to formalise their bid, but nothing has been concluded at this stage,” alleged the impeccable source. Swallows Communications and Marketing Manager, Mancoba Mabuza, said while it was not a secret that the club would be signing new players for the upcoming season, they had not reached a stage of revealing their signings.

“At Mbabane Swallows FC, announcements pertaining to new players are made through a press release/statement or a press conference, or both. This will be done at the appropriate time and the media will obviously be involved,” Mabuza assured. This publication had contacted Mabuza testing the veracity of the claims about the offer on top of ascertaining if there were indeed plans to re-unite with the seasoned forward.

The player expectedly downplayed the interest when sought for comment yesterday. “I don’t know anything about Swallows and their lucrative deals, so there is nothing to consider there,” he said briefly. Reports of ‘Sikhali’s possible reunion with Swallows started after the conclusion of the season this past Sunday.  Highlanders Managing Director Chief Ally Kgomongwe was quoted by this publication yesterday confident that the player would remain on board.

Contracts

“I’m not new to expiring contract issues. ‘Sikhali’ is my player and he belongs to Mbabane Highlanders. All our players are happy to be with us and none of them has indicated that he wants to leave us. They can sit without contracts and all of them but when the time comes, they will get new contracts because this is home for them,” Kgomomgwe was quoted saying. ‘Sikhali’ had left Swallows back in 2019, after an illustrious career. He joined the defunct South Africa’s National First Division side Mbombela United.  

From the neighbouring country he was snatched by Highlanders to save his career. He had been slapped with a two-year suspension by the South African Football Association (SAFA), but it later emerged he was eligible to play outside  that country.

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