‘SIKHALI’ TURNS DOWN GALAXY’S E250K OFFER

MBABANE – Eswatini’s best forward at the moment in 31-year-old Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa was not only in demand locally but beyond the country’s borders as well.

The former Mbabane Highlanders’ Captain for the last two seasons had been a speculation for transfer since the end of last season in June, with his contract running out at the end of that very month. Nearly all the big guns in the country wanted his signature but Correctional Services side Green Mamba came out tops, when he put pen to paper with them last week Friday morning.

Upset

He upset many of Highlanders loyals including the team’s Managing Director Chief Ally Kgomongwe, who however, later accepted it.
Before signing the Green Mamba contract, ‘Sikhali’ had been excited by an international offer from Botswana’s elite league side, Jwaneng Galaxy, who tabled him a more lucrative offer than the Green Mamba deal he took.

Tabled

Galaxy tabled E250 000 as a signing-on fee for the striker, along with an initial E30 000 monthly remuneration over a two-year period. “He had very good offers we can’t lie about that and the Botswana one was the highest of them all in terms of cash but he had to put to consideration the distance and his family.” So, when Green Mamba came, he was still talking about the Jwaneng Galaxy deal and staying at Highlanders but in the end opted to be home with Green Mamba who had the second best offer.

“It was quite a tough decision for him and Emihle’s mother because in the end we all want money. As if this was not enough, Sekhukhune from the PSL in South Africa had also made a verbal offer during the COSAFA Cup in Durban but they didn’t follow it up with the formal papers. ‘Sikhali’ was ready to join Galaxy but asked that they review the salary offer and they increased it to E37 000,” said an impeccable source. The source said had Sekhukhune United made their offer formal, perhaps the status quo would be different today as playing in the South African DStv Premiership was a dream and ‘Sikhali’s previous boss Chief Ally Kgomongwe of Highlanders had wanted that for him.

Offer

“Green Mamba had the second best offer which is not far off from the Botswana deal as he was given over E150 000 as signing-on fee and a E20 000 monthly salary for three years plus a job offer, against a two-year deal away from home,” the source who is close to both the player and his partner, Swane Mazibuko explained. The third best offer for the forward was from MTN Premier League champions Royal Leopard, who tabled E130 000 as signing-on fee plus salary, coming with a police officer job and match winning allowances, while Highlanders were at E100 000 signing-on fee and an increased salary from E12 000 to E20 000 for two more years. The MTN Premier League Player of the Year and 23-goal hero for Highlanders last season is now a Green Mamba player and any international offer that comes from now on will mean a transfer fee paid by the team recruiting him. Meanwhile, Mazibuko when called was in the presence of the player who was yet to speak to the media about his transfer move to Green Mamba. Mazibuko affirmed the offers after also consulting with him and making him aware that the article’s author was on the phone.

“Yes, Jwaneng wanted him for two years but as you know, he made his choice and all we can do is support him all the way. It’s without a doubt the Jwaneng Galaxy contract was very good, but then again Green Mamba offered him close to that and the advantage to be home and pursue his and our future plans,” she said. She also concurred to the figures involved while not denying Sekhukhune United also showed interest in ‘Sikhali’ but without further pursuit when they were expected to formalise things.

Briefly about Jwaneng Galaxy:

They were founded in 2014 after two local clubs merged; the Jwaneng Comets and the Debswana Youngsters. Galaxy were promoted to the Botswana Premier League for the first time in 2015, winning the First Division South League with a match to spare. They had a fairy-tale run in their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2021/22 as they reached their maiden group stage.

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