I CAN STILL DELIVER FOR SIHLANGU – ‘YUKI’

MBABANE – Dennis ‘Yuki’ Masina who has spent 14 years playing professional football in South Africa has challenged local players to take football seriously.

The former Mbabane Midas City and Manzini Wanderers player has captain both the Under-23 and Sihlangu in his illustrious career.
On Tuesday, Masina who is the only Swazi player now plying his trade in the money spinning Absa Premiership scored the equalizer as Mpumalanga Black Aces twice came from behind to force a 2-all draw.

“I am always available for Sihlangu and we can turn things around as long as players take each and every game seriously. We should stop the culture of playing well whenever we play South African teams, but we should apply the same commitment even against countries like Zimbabwe and Zambia,” he said.
He said Sihlangu can learn from Botswana who for many years have been the continent’s whipping boys, but in 2012 they qualified for the first time for the AFCON finals.

“They have a lot of players playing in South Africa, and that can only be attributed to the fact that the players know what they came here for. We need to learn from these guys and surely we can start exporting players to the PLS again,” he said.
He said teams like Mbabane Swallows have shown great potential recently, when playing against the likes of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, but the trick is to show the same determination even when playing teams from Zambia and other countries in the continent.

“Swallows has experienced players who can form the base at Sihlangu. The national team has to start winning games, and it is the experience at Swallows that can help. Personally, I am always ready to don the national team jersey,” he said.
The player said he was happy to work under Bafana Bafana’s most successful coach Clive Barker at Black Aces. He said the secret that has kept him since 1999 when he left Wanderers for the defunct Umtata Bush Bucks has been patience and hard work.

“I think sometimes I have been lucky to be still playing at this level, but more than anything the secret is to know your priorities in life,” he said. Masina was snatched by Bush Bucks who had also signed Siza ‘King Pele’ Dlamini in 1999 following a spending COSAFA Castle Cup showing with Sihlangu. Dlamini retired about four seasons ago at Jomo Cosmos to pursue a career in coaching. He is now Assistant Coach at the Ephraim ‘Jomo’ Sono owned National First Division side.

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