Swazi Observer

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BIRDS LEGEND ‘MDAMARA’ DIES

By Sibusiso Masilela | 2020-07-02

SOCCER - A dark cloud has enveloped the Mbabane Swallows family following the sudden demise of the team’s former exciting winger and potential director Thabo ‘Mdamara’ Mpama.

The South African based businessman is reported to have succumbed to death after suffering from an undisclosed illness.

Mpama’s demise comes a week after the death of another soccer legend Samuel ‘Mzambiya’ Maphanga, who used to play for Mhlambanyatsi Rovers and also former Mbabane Swallows treasurer Timothy ‘Tim’ Nhleko.

The late Mpama was also earmarked for the directorship before the club roped in the current President Archbishop Bheki Lukhele.

Mbabane Swallows also mourned the demise of Swaziland Building Society Managing Director Tim Nhleko.

The team’s Marketing and Communications Officer Mancoba Mabuza issued the statement sending their condolonces yesterday.

“We have learnt with shock about the demise of the club’s former treasurer Timothy Nhleko as well as former player Thabo ‘Mdamara’ Mpama. Nhleko served the club with much diligence at administration level while Mpama continued to support Mbabane Swallows even when he was based in South Africa.

We thank them for their service to the club. We express condolences to the families of Nhleko and Mpama; our thoughts and prayers are with both families at this time. “This sad moment comes at a time of COVID-19 outbreak when we, unfortunately, cannot support the families fully as we would have loved to support them because of the necessary precautions as stipulated by the government,” he said.

In his heydays as a respected and exciting winger, Mdamara played alongside one of the greatest and most exciting Swallows sides of the late 1970s to the mid-80s.

This team boasted skilful players like the irrepressible and utility player Reuben ‘Pele’ Mncina, the quicksilver Pius ‘Mkhari’ Dube, the slippery Thabo ‘Sparrow’ Kgongoane, the lavishly gifted Lloyd ‘Magic Feet’ Maziya, speed merchant Ronnie ‘Valiant’ Dube, late captain Gift ‘Craker’ Masina, former goalscoring machine Wilfred ‘Maria Maria’ Fakudze, and strong defender Alex ‘Ayezamanzi’ Mamba and many more other greats.

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