SOCCER – Twenty-four hours before Mbabane Swallows clash head-on with their bitter-sworn rivals Mbabane Highlanders, Phiwayinkhosi ‘Slwabelwabe’ Dlamini has already added salt to more than seven decades of rivalry.
The former Young Buffaloes and Sihlangu striker trained with Swallows this week in readiness for tomorrow’s eagerly anticipated big derby at Mavuso Sports Centre, in what proved to be the red-and-white glamour side’s biggest catch of the window, which opened on the same day. However, Highlanders General Manager Richard Makhoba has come out to claim ‘Slwabelwabe’ as their player.
According to Makhoba, the marksman signed with the black-and-gold side on December 23, going on to supply picture evidence through the club’s media team.
“Phiwa signed with us on December 23 and we have already notified Swallows that he is our player.
“We did this not to catch them by surprise on match day and we do not know if they will use him in the derby match. He was unveiled by us and we were still to allocate him a jersey number,” Makhoba said when reached.
‘Slwabelwabe’ is training with Swallows ahead of the MTN Premier League clash at Mavuso Sports Centre tomorrow and in an interview on Thursday, he confidently said he could harvest at least 10 goals, starting with tomorrow’s derby against Highlanders to the end of the season.
He trained with his new teammates at Motshane Training Centre and was largely expected to make his Swallows debut tomorrow.
‘Slwabelwabe’, who has been on the fringes since the beginning of the season after being released by Buffaloes, said he realised that the MTN Premier League top scorer halfway through the season is on 10 goals and confidently said he could score as many in the second round.
Malangeni Dlamini of Tabankulu Celtics and Rangers’ Hleliso Gamedze are the joint leading scorers with 10 goals apiece after 13 MTN Premier League matches.
“I appreciate the opportunity to play for Swallows and can promise hard work and goals. I have played security forces derbies, but this one is different.
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“If I get a chance to play, I promise my very best. If the coach believes in me and I get chances, I realised that the scorers’ chart leader has 10 goals and I promise to score 10 goals in the second round,” he said.
Swallows Public Relations Officer Knowledge Ngwenya did not respond to several calls made to him last night to clarify the situation.
On Thursday, Swallows head coach Caleb Ngwenya said he has mentioned previously that his team was creating ample chances, but failing to convert, hence the signing of a goal-proven striker like ‘Slwabelwabe’.
“I don’t need to explain the importance of Phiwa. I previously said in my interviews that we are doing well, but not scoring,” the tactician said.
Meanwhile, Highlanders have bolstered their squad by signing four South African internationals ahead of the derby.
Former Royal AM striker Nkosivumile ‘Mageba’ Zulu leads the arrivals, joined by striker Mpendulo Phewa, defender Simiso Gumede and attacking midfielder Sikhumbuzo Mazibuko.
The former, with the exception of Mazibuko, were cleared from Midlands Wanderers, arrived this week and immediately trained under coach Ernest Mavuso to spark a turnaround after recent struggles against rivals and inconsistent league form.
