‘PUPU’ ON MAMBA RADAR

MBABANE - Skilful Mbabane Swallows midfielder Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze is linked with a switch to Green Mamba.

It was exclusively reported in our publication last week that the supporters’ favourite player was reportedly not seeing eye-to-eye with his coach, Caleb Ngwenya, and was also unhappy with the capital city giants after falling down the pecking order. A source within the Umkhonto KaShaka camp revealed that the ex-South Africa’s Polokwane City player was told to leave the Swallows’ training camp after an alleged heated argument with Ngwenya, whom according to the source, had always had a strained relationship with the player.

Exciting

Latest reports suggest the exciting Swallows player is on Green Mamba’s radar, come the end of the season. ‘Pupu’ has been identified by the current log leaders and he is seen as one player who will replace Mxolisi ‘Kudus’ Mkhonto, who might leave the club for Zambia at the end of the season. The club is adamant that the Swallows player can have a great partnership with players like Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu, Njabulo ‘Magwegwe’ Magagula and Khethokuhle Mkhontfo in the star-studded Ernest Mavuso strong midfield. “Don’t be surprised to see the player at Green Mamba next season, unless Caleb Ngwenya leaves Mbabane Swallows ,” revealed the source.

Cheap

Mbabane Swallows General Manager Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane said they knew that there was a certain team after ‘Pupu’, but said the player would not come cheap. “We know how to handle the ‘Pupu’ issue and we will handle it according to the rules of FIFA. They must know that they will have to pay if they want any of our players. If the committee of the club finds that ‘Pupu’ was wrong, he will be disciplined according to the rules set by the club for misconduct,” he said. ‘Beyond 2000’ said ‘Pupu’ had a running contract with the club. “He has a contract with the club that runs until the end of next season and any club that wants him will have to follow the correct channels,” he added.

Meanwhile, Green Mamba Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mandla Sibiya distanced the team from the reports. “If we want a player, we use the correct channels and these are speculations. There is no way that we can talk to any player without the approval of Sandile Zwane, who we believe we have a good working relationship with as a club,” he said. The CEO revealed that they were not interested in ‘Pupu’ for now but were concentrating on winning the league. “We are not talking about signing players but we are only focusing on trying to win the league and we have to win our tough game against Young Buffaloes, which will not be easy for the club,” Sibiya said.

Shunned

The Swallows maestro, who is also believed to have shunned the Swallows club activities, would find former teammates at ‘Inyoka Eluhlazane’, if he is to complete the move. They include Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu and Sabelo ‘Sikhali ‘Ndzinisa who have both played an integral part of the success that included, among other things,  winning 11 consecutive MTN Premier League games on the trot in the league. ‘Pupu’, who is believed to have changed cellphone numbers, could not be drawn for comment after both of his cellphones were unreachable for the better part of the day.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: