MANZINI – Eswatini National Under-23 stars marked their return from international duty with match-winning performances in the MTN Premier League this weekend.
Attacking midfielder Sibonelo ‘Mzala’ Vilakati and national Under-20 Captain Njabulo Gama, who also features for the Under-23 side, led Moneni Pirates and Young Buffaloes to key victories, respectively, after returning from continental qualifiers.
National team hero ‘Mzala’ scored the only goal as Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala’s Moneni bounced back from a 2-1 defeat to Buffaloes by snapping log leaders Ubombo Sugar’s flawless start with a 1-0 win.
Vilakati carried over his international form, having also scored the solitary away goal that sank Malawi 1-0 in the first leg of the Under-23 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers first preliminary round to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory. Eswatini now prepares to face Algeria in the next round next month.
Meanwhile, Gama, making his first league appearance this season after missing the season opener due to COSAFA Under-20 Championship duty, netted a brace to rally Buffaloes from behind against last season’s runners-up, Manzini Sea Birds. The army side won the five-goal thriller 3-2 and recorded a second consecutive league victory.
Meanwhile, Sea Birds have bolstered their squad by handing top-flight contracts to national Under-23 goalkeeper Xolani Sithole and Sethu Mamba, snapping up both players from the Regional Super League, third division.
