MBABANE – “It is as good as a done deal.”
Those were the words of Royal Leopard General Manager Frank Hurube when asked for an update on Celtics FC top striker Malangeni Dlamini.
Hurube confirmed that the player is currently training with the police side, adding that terms have already been agreed with his parent club.
“It’s as good as a done deal with him. The player has been training with us for close to two weeks now. We informed his team, though there were initial doubts after he was ordered to return to Celtics until his price tag was met,” Hurube explained.
“However, the player came back to us. Because we value him so highly, we had no option but to engage Celtics and agree to pay what is due.”
When pressed on Celtics’ asking price for Dlamini, Hurube revealed the figure stood at E150 000, adding that the club is currently finalising the funds to settle the deal.
Responding to reports that Celtics were planning to suspend the forward for continuing to train with Leopard, Hurube brushed off the claims.
“We have discussed this with them. We are aware of their intentions to suspend the player, but we have already agreed to pay what is owed,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Celtics FC Board of Governors representative Sebenele Hlatjwako proved futile, as he could not be reached on his mobile. Text messages and phone calls went unanswered at the time of going to press.
In a previous interview with the Times Sport Desk, Hlatjwako insisted that the forward was not for sale, stating the club preferred to retain his services or secure an overseas move for him.
He further revealed that Celtics had previously turned down a E250 000 bid from another elite league club.
Dlamini enjoyed a stellar debut season in the top flight, netting 14 league goals and attracting significant interest from suitors as early as the January transfer window. He joined Celtics at the start of the 2025/26 season from Red Rhinos, where he first made a name for himself before earning a national team call-up.
For context, the league’s top scorer last season was Hleliso Gamedze, who bagged 18 goals prior to his move from Rangers to Royal Leopard.
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