NHLANGANO – Mbabane Highlanders AM suffered another painful defeat without President Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize in the stands, as Nsingizini Hotspurs edged them 1-0 on Saturday.
The Black Bull’s second consecutive league defeat came at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium, where Quality Dlamini’s 41st-minute strike settled a fiercely-contested encounter played under scorching temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.
Mkhize, who has become a familiar and energetic presence at Highlanders matches, was conspicuously absent as her team struggled to recover from last weekend’s 2-0 defeat against Royal Leopard.
Her absence attracted attention, particularly as she is usually seen rallying the supporters and celebrating alongside the players. However, Highlanders AM FC Public Relations Officer Thabiso ‘Touch’ Manyatsi said the club was not interested in speculation surrounding the president.
“We do not deal with hearsay as Mbabane Highlanders AM FC. We want facts. Firstly, we know that she is out of the country on business. Secondly, what the president does outside the team is her own private and confidential life,” Manyatsi said.
Meanwhile, Mkhize has shared a glimpse of her activities in China through a video posted on social media, where she described the crowds she encountered and expressed hope of bringing something valuable home.
“I have never seen so many people in one area,” she said in the video, describing the overwhelming numbers of people walking around the venue.
She also referred to the event as a ‘country fair’ and said she wanted to see what she could bring home.
Mkhize is understood to be attending the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China, a major international trade exhibition that provides businesses with opportunities to explore products, source supplies and establish commercial connections.
