LOBAMBA – Eswatini international and ambitious Zimbabwean outfit Hardrock midfielder Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini has once again showed his mettle on foreign soil.
The Sihlangu midfielder earned another Man of the Match award, walking away with over E2 000 ($200) after ‘Kasongo’ were held to a stalemate by Simba Bhora on Saturday during a pulsating Castle Lager Premier Soccer League week 33 match.
His stellar performances this season put him in a strong position to contend for the Player of the Season award with just one game remaining.
This was by no means his first matchday accolade. In May, he was named the outstanding player of the match, a feat he repeated on October 10.
Although Hardrock earned a crucial point, their title ambitions suffered a slight setback as Scottland closed the gap to two points. Dlamini, as has become the norm, made Kelvin Kaindu’s starting XI and played the full 90 minutes.
This follows a 4-0 thrashing of Herentals, a match that saw former Nsingizini Hotspurs full-back Kwakhe ‘Stopper’ Thwala net the third goal. Dlamini’s consistent form has rightly earned him another call-up to the Eswatini senior national team ahead of their historic friendly against European outfit Malta next Thursday.
He joins Thwala and several other Zimbabwe-based counterparts in the national squad, including Thubelihle Mavuso, Yeki ‘Madumane’ Khumalo, and Sambulo ‘Masoso’ Simelane. The Zimbabwean contingent is completed by Agama full-back Newman ‘Strong’ Philiso.
Dlamini has made a serious name for himself at his new club. In August, he extended his impressive scoring streak by netting one of the fastest goals in Zimbabwean football history.
Playing for Hardrock in a high-octane Munhumutapa Challenge Cup clash against Kwekwe United at Chahwanda Stadium, Dlamini found the back of the net just 20 seconds after the opening whistle.
The strike added to his growing tally in Zimbabwe, where he has registered at least two league goals and two assists since joining the club last year. The midfield engine is currently one of Hardrock’s most valuable assets, boasting a Transfermarkt valuation slightly above E1 million (£50 000).
That match also marked a major milestone, as Hardrock’s entire Eswatini quartet named in Coach Kelvin Kaindu’s side made the starting line-up.
