Swazi Observer

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‘TIGER’ WINS TOP GONG

By JONGILE XUBA | 2024-07-01

SOCCER - SIMPLY the best!

This best describes Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini, the dynamic midfielder of Mbabane Swallows, who has been honoured as the 2023/24 MTN Premier League Player of the Season.

This occurred during a prestigious awards ceremony that took place at the Royal Villas Hotel yesterday, celebrating the outstanding performance of the league’s top talent.

‘Tiger’ was a pivotal force in Mbabane Swallows’ journey to their first league title in five years. His exceptional skills and leadership on the field were instrumental in propelling the team to victory. Dlamini’s consistent and high-level play earned him this coveted accolade, alongside a whopping cash prize of E15 000. The player was not present to accept the award as he is currently on duty with the senior men’s national team Sihlangu at the ongoing COSAFA Cup, taking place in Gqeberha, South Africa. ‘Tiger’ was also awarded the Player of the Month award for the month of May, which saw him take home an additional E6 000 to his pay cheque. This took his total winnings for the night to E21 000.

The accolades for Mbabane Swallows didn’t stop there, as their head coach Caleb Ngwenya was awarded the Coach of the Season award, a testament to his strategic brilliance and the successful execution of his vision for the team. Ngwenya’s efforts were not in vain as he was rewarded with a cash prize of E10 000. Other notable awardees were Green Mamba striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, who claimed the Golden Boot Award, having scored an impressive 19 goals throughout the season. His remarkable goal-scoring ability played a significant role in Green Mamba’s strong performance, securing them the runner-up position and E500 000 in prize money.

amassed

The striker amassed a cash prize of E10 000 for his feat. Nsingizini Hotspurs also made a significant statement at the awards ceremony, with goalkeeper Sibusiso ‘Bharaba’ Dlamini named the Golden Glove award winner, having kept 12 clean sheets over the season. Remarkably, ‘Bharaba’ was the only goalkeeper to score three goals this season and was once even named Player of the Month. His achievements were recognised with a cash prize of E10 000. Another Hotspurs team member, Mnotfo Dlamini, won the Best Public Relations Officer (PRO) award, acknowledging his outstanding contribution to the team’s public image and communication efforts. He received a cash prize of E5 000 for his dedication and hard work.

The crowning moment of the evening was the celebration of Mbabane Swallows, as the league champions. The capital city giants took home the impressive E1 million in prize money, a fitting reward for their stellar performance in the season. MTN CEO Wandile Mtshali congratulated the various winners on the day, as he highlighted their long-fruitful partnership with the Premier League of Eswatini, mentioning some of the best moments during the partnership. He said the sponsorship of the tournament was one of the key ways in which they were able to connect and encourage an interaction with their fans.

celebration

“Today’s awards presentation is a celebration of the tears and triumphs witnessed on the field during the 2023/2024 season through amazing sportsmanship, which embodies teamwork and discipline, exemplified by the exceptional athletes we are honouring today. Their dedication and excellence make us proud to be part of the Premier League of Eswatini and the achievements of today’s sportsmen,” he said.

The CEO went on to say they were looking ahead to commencing another exciting season to drive their products and services, such as MoMo, data bundles and Ayoba.

Premier League:

PRIZE BREAKDOWN:

Champions: Mbabane Swallows - E1 million

Second prize: Green Mamba - E500 000

Third prize: Nsingizini Hotspurs - E350 000

Fourth place: Young Buffaloes - E200 000

INDIVIDUAL PRIZES:

Player of the Year: Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini - E15 000

Top Goal Scorer: Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa - E12 000

Best Goalkeeper: Sibusiso ‘Bharaba’ Dlamini - E10 000

Coach of the Year: Caleb Ngwenya - E10 000

Fair Play Award: Illovo - E10 000