MBABANE – Mbabane Swallows have reportedly won the race to sign Denver Sundowns’ midfielder Siphamandla ‘24 Reasons’ Maseko ahead of the season.
The workaholic and skilful player had an impressive season with Ikappa Kappa, helping his team finish inside the top eight bracket in the concluded 2022/23 season.The publication reported earlier this month that ‘24 Reasons, as Siphamandla is fondly known in football corridors, was reportedly on his way to join Motsepe Foundation Championship side Marumo Gallants. According to impeccable sources, the player who left with two other Ikappa kappa players, impressed in his three-day assessment with the former DStv Premiership club. The player had reportedly been given another opportunity to train with the first team when the Limpopo-based side returns for their preseason.
“The Gallants technical team loved the player but the major problem was that he was a foreigner and the team ended up opting for another foreign player who had experience,” said the source. The source later revealed that the former Denver Sundowns player later trained with Polokwane City, where he also impressed but was later not signed because of the experience of not playing in the lucrative DStv league. “He even scored against Cape Town City during the club’s preseason friendly game ,” the source shared.
Signature
New developments regarding ‘24 Reasons’ is that ‘Umkhonto KaShaka’ has won the signature of the talented player, beating tradition rivals Mbabane Highlanders, who were also having talks to sign the midfielder. “He started training with Swallows earlier this week and even played in last week’s friendly game against Manzini Sea Birds at the Malkerns Country Club. Swallows have sent him a contract offer which is currently being looked at by his father, Codesa Maseko. By the look of things he will definitely sign,” said the source.
Feature
The source went on to reveal that Siphamandla will be travelling with Swallows to Ulundi tomorrow to feature in the Prince Mangosuthu Legacy Cup. “He will definitely travel with the team to Durban and he is seen as one of the future prospects for the club,” the source shared. Meanwhile, Swallows long-serving General Manager (GM) Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane said they were going to call the media and update the team’s supporters about players. “We will call the media and update them about players who have left and those who have joined the club,” he said briefly. ‘24 Reasons’ could not be drawn for comment after his cellphone rang unanswered when called yesterday.
