Swazi Observer

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EVER PRESENT TRIO AT BIRDS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

By Sibongiseni Zondi | 2018-07-20

SOCCER- DEFENDERS Mandla Palma and Sifiso Mabila as well as veteran winger Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko played every single minute of Mbabane Swallows’ 2018 CAF Champions League campaign.

Swallows were beaten 0-3 by former African champions Etoile Du Sahel of Tunisia at Mavuso Sports Centre on Tuesday afternoon in what was the Birds’ seventh match of the 2018 Champions League. Swallows began their Champions League campaign with a two legged preliminary tie against Lesotho’s Bantu FC in February.

Swallows then took on Zanaco of Zambia in the first round (another two-legged tie) before advancing to the group stages where they faced Zesco United and Primeirode Agosto. Palma, Mabila and the 38 years old Nhleko have played every single minute of those games according to CAF records. Going into Tuesday’s match, captain Tony Tsabedze had also played every single minute but he was subbed off later on against Sahel as coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati looked for a late revival.

Talisman Felix Badenhorst, Swallows’ top scorer in the competition with four goals, has also clocked up a lot of minutes, hitting 602 out of a possible 630. Badenhorst was substituted only once, in the shocking 1-3 defeat to Bantu FC in the second leg of the preliminary tie at Somhlolo National Stadium in February.

Of the 22 Swallows player who have been registered for the Champions League (in time for Tuesday’s match), four are yet to kick a ball in Africa’s premier club competition this season. These are midfielder Richard Sewu, defenders Lungelo Nxumalo, Mhlonipheni Matsebula and Siphamandla Matsebula who has since left the club. New signing Tarawallie Sallie came on as a substitute on Tuesday to make his Swallows debut. Of all the players who have played in the Champions League, young midfielder Sizolwethu ‘Nunu’ Shabalala has the fewest minutes, 28 in total. Those limited minutes have a lot to do with a knee injury which saw the playmaker missing the entire month of March in which Swallows played the two first round matches against Zanaco.

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