‘BIRDS’ RELEASE ‘BEN 10’, TWO OTHERS

MBABANE – Umkhonto KaShaka have reportedly released attacking midfielder Tony ‘Ben 10’ Machacha, Albert Nkosana and Samba Orion ahead of the new season.   

The former ‘Inkunzi Emnyama’ player joined the Caleb ‘No Nonsense’ Ngwenya’s league-winning Mbabane Swallows at the onset of the 2023/24 MTN Premier League season. Signing from cross-town rivals Mbabane Highlanders, the South African player saw limited appearances with the Mbabane giants, with his most recent being in the grand closing game against Young Buffaloes. Orion signed on the dotted line at the beginning of the season, with former Highlanders international defender Aristo Tamuzi (DR Congo), Nsingizini Hotspurs playmaker Mancoba ‘Nciba’ Vilakati, Ubombo Flyers attacking midfielder Ncomo Gina and DRC-born striker Dikuti Mbombo.

Nkosana, on the other hand, joined the Mbabane giants during the second transfer window in January and remained with the club for the remainder of the recently-concluded MTN Premier League season. The latest news from the capital city giants reveal that  Swallows have released ‘Ben 10’, Nkosana and Samba Orion, as they gear up for next season’s 2024/25 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League, after the trio failed to live up to expectations since signing for the club. “The three foreign players were acquired by the club in the previous season with the expectation that they would outperform the local players. However, they failed to meet the technical team’s standards and did not make a significant impact in last season. Consequently,  the team has decided to part ways with these players, who have not returned since last season,” the source said.

The source went on to disclose that Swallows were looking to bolster their squad by recruiting two or three foreign players. This development has been prompted by the departure of three foreign players who failed to meet the technical team’s expectations, thus freeing up three foreign spots in the squad. “The team has been holding training sessions with numerous players in preparation for today’s pre-season friendly match against Illovo FC. Several of these players, who have been undergoing rigorous training and evaluation, are expected to feature in the game,” said the source.Meanwhile, Swallows Public Relations Officer Knowledge Ngwenya stated that he was unaware of the specific players who will be leaving the club, but acknowledged that management was still waiting for an official report from the technical team regarding the matter.

Offloaded

“At this time, I have not received any specific information concerning players being offloaded from the club. However, it is standard practice for our management team to review the roster in consultation with the technical staff, especially as we gear up for the next season. Once we have received the official report, we will be better positioned to provide more clarity on the matter. Rest assured, any decisions made will be with the intention of maintaining our competitive edge and furthering the success of our club,” he said.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: