‘BULL’ GET E15K SALARY ‘MANYOVU’

MBABANE – Fingers were crossed.

As expected, Mbabane Highlanders managed to beat the transfer deadline last night before it was extended to October 31, to add to their already star-studded side speedy winger, Bonginkosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini. The capital city giants were as of last week been trying to seal the deal with Royal Leopard but it did not happen until they faced a race against time with the first transfer window period deadline due last midnight before it was extended. After the club’s Managing Director (MD) Chief Ally Kgomongwe took it upon himself to negotiate with Leopard’s Management Committee (MC) Chairman Meshack Ntshalintshali, the deal was reportedly sealed on Thursday night.

Impeccable sources have told this publication the black and white Inkunz’emnyama as Highlanders are also fondly known, were so thrilled to finally land the winger who it is claimed will be paid E15 000 monthly salary. The news came in the wake of negative reports that he had stopped training due to almost losing hope the deal would go through. “It is now a matter of registration for the player before I can say he will be available on Sunday (tomorrow) we have finalised our talks with Leopard. I’m very happy with the way they helped me in this matter, they were very professional and all parties are happy. The player is also happy to see the deal concluded,” Kgomongwe said when reached for comment after the team posted on its Facebook page after lunch yesterday the news that ‘Manyovu’ was officially a ‘Bull’.

Kgomongwe said while he was also always willing to extend a helping hand, where he is asked to help particularly other teams in the same league, he was happy to see Leopard give him such professional assistance after he had unveiled the player without obtaining the relevant documentation from either Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca or Leopard. He also said he was grateful to receive a message of appreciation from Leopard after he completed the transfer fee transaction. Sagrada signed the winger early this year for two years, but had agreed with Leopard the player would be cleared back to them should the contract not see the end. It lasted only six months and the player returned home but signed a two-year deal with Highlanders.

He was unveiled at the Somhlolo National Stadium, which was packed to the brim as Highlanders played to a goalless draw against South Africa’s CAF Confederation Cup envoys Royal AM in the preliminary round of the competition last month. A source close to the player also confirmed the player was excited and looking forward to play in tomorrow’s MoMo Cup should the technical bench decide to give him some minutes. Efforts to get ‘Manyovu’ proved futile as his cellphone rang unanswered but the club confirmed he was at training since Thursday while his salary was deemed confidential between him and the club. As reported by our sister publication, the player will not be getting signing-on fee after the E100 000 transfer fee was paid but can seek his 10 per cent share which is E10 000 from his former employers.

“We are still working around the clock to register our new players as it’s not just one but for now we’d now to hold on to their names until we’re successful but yes, Manyovu is among them,” Highlanders’ Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mandla Madonsela said. Leopard’s PRO Frank Hurube thanked Highlanders’ Chief Kgomongwe and their chairman for finalising the matter and said since Highlanders supporters were also waiting for this transfer, they were hopeful that they would warmly welcome him.

“To ‘Manyovu’, he has been a great player and we come a long way with him. He is our boy and we want to wish him the best of luck at Highlanders. He mustn’t forget who he is as he is still a police officer and must handle himself mannerly and be disciplined,” Hurube said while adding that his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) was the only delay but since everything was now submitted for registration, there should not be a challenge in his registration by his new employers for the next two seasons. Leopard MC Chairman, Ntshalintshali confirmed receipt of payment from Highlanders, which he said came through at around 9am yesterday after some technicalities.

Friendship

“I believe football is not for enmity but to form friendship so if Highlanders are happy, I’m happy they feel like that over how the matter was handled. I hope they can successfully register him as there was still some paperwork that was needed to be sent to us before his clearance to Highlanders,” he explained at around 7pm.

Meanwhile, Highlanders’ semifinal rivals in the inaugural MoMo Cup tomorrow at Mavuso Sports Centre, Manzini Wanderers have also added the former’s midfielder in Mlamuli ‘Mlaba’ Nkambule while they were reportedly also after another former Highlanders midfield star last season, Xolani ‘Papi’ Sikhondze. If both are signed, and registered, they will reunite with former teammate  last season in defensive midfielder Menzi Mamba as well as attacking midfielder Sibonginkosi ‘Gudas’ Dlamini, who was released at the end of the season before last. Also striker Fabrice Mopina had already been registered before yesterday. There was not much activity at Mbabane Swallows who only re-registered Qiniso Nyawo while Moneni Pirates added Paballo Yende, a Young Buffaloes development product who has also played for Wanderers.

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