MBABANE -Eswatini’s CAF Champions League representatives Nsingizini Hotspurs have completed a dramatic raid on Mbabane Highlanders to sign star midfielder Siyabonga Mkhonto.
The blockbuster transfer comes just hours before the two sides lock horns in the highly-anticipated Prince Mangosuthu Legacy Cup in Ulundi this Saturday, July 18, adding an explosive layer of psychological warfare to the tournament.
Mkhonto, who enjoyed a phenomenal campaign last term and was a frontrunner for the prestigious Player of the Season accolade, leaves a massive void in the capital giants’ ranks. While the finer financial details of the deal remain strictly undisclosed, Mbabane Highlanders confirmed the departure on Friday, stating that the release was mutually agreed upon in the best interests of both parties after the player’s ambitions shifted.
The development deals a significant tactical blow to South African businesswoman Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize, who took ownership of Highlanders last July with grand ambitions of restoring the club’s continental pedigree. The timing could not be more bruising for new Highlanders Head Coach Floyd Mogale, who was unveiled with much fanfare earlier this week and tasked with building a squad capable of challenging for major silverware.
Initially, Mkhonto had expressed a desire to stay and commit to Mogale’s new era. However, the irresistible lure of CAF Champions League football with Nsingizini Hotspurs ultimately forced a dramatic reassessment. As Hotspurs fortify their squad for Africa’s elite club competition, MaMkhize’s ‘Black Bull’ must now rapidly pick up the pieces, starting with a fiery battle against their own poached superstar this weekend.
