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‘SAMBA JIVE’ RETIRES

30/06/2023 07:27:00 Machawe Fakudze

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MBABANE – Eswatini’s oldest elite league player Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko has retired from active football.

The Mbabane Swallows veteran midfielder dropped the bombshell after appearing for the former Mbabane Highlanders defender Msunduza Malambe’s Mbabane XI who beat Siphocosini XI in a Kasi Challenge match played at the Msunduza Sports Ground on Wednesday. The 42-year-old ‘Samba Jive’ came back from retirement in the second round of the 2021/22 season to help the then Christopher Ennin side finish that campaign on position three. He even won the Player of the Month gong for April in that season.

He said it was time to give youngsters a chance to play as he had played his part in both local and international football over his football career, which blossomed from erstwhile Premier League side Gege Happy Stars. “I haven’t yet officially told the team about my decision; however I can confirm that it is now a good time to hang up my soccer boots. I will not be lost at Swallows as you will remember that when I retired in the 2021/22 season, I was promoted to be head of development in the team,” the former Denver Sundowns attacking winger said. The former South Africa’s Black Leopards star revealed that discipline and dedication kept him in the game for so long and urged youngsters to take leaf from him for them to achieve more in the sport.

Ill-discipline

“What I have noticed is that what hinders promising young players to last long in the game is ill-discipline. The country has a lot of talent, but poor lifestyles kill budding future stars,” he said. He then congratulated 2022/23 MTN Premier League Player of the Season in Green Mamba’s Mxolisi ‘Kudus’ Mkhonto for walking away with the prestigious award in local football, in a ceremony which was held at SibaneSami Hotel in Ezulwini on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the other oldest player to grace local football was Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane, who played at top flight football until he was at 49 for Manzini Sea Birds. On the other hand, Swallows General Manager (GM) Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane said nothing had reached his office regarding ‘Samba Jive’s retirement.