MBABANE – Yet another setback looms for giants Mbabane Highlanders.
This follows news that this weekend’s fixture against giant-slaying elite returnees Rangers, who shocked last season’s runners-up Young Buffaloes 2-1 over the weekend in the MTN Premier League, may be sturdy defender Mandla Palma’s last. “There’s a story about Palma, that he’s told the club management he has gotten a job in South Africa (SA), and he must leave us soon. Actually, according to him, he’s supposed to start as of next week, but we’ll see how that pens out. If he has to go, it means we must run around looking for a defender and we still also have Thami Zulu available,” an impeccable source close to the players and management said. Kgomongwe was also called about this and he confirmed the reports.
professional
“I’m very much aware. Palma is a professional and senior player. He didn’t hide from us that he has gotten a job offer in SA and he has to leave the team. It is all okay and we’re happy for him, especially because it is my biggest wish to open doors for Eswatini players for SA teams. “I must say, that while he reported that he got a job, I think and believe that the job is Black Leopards, he’s going to be one of the defenders in the team,” Kgomongwe said. He said Palma has a history with Solly and the latter always spoke highly of the former Mbabane Swallows and national team Sihlangu centre-back, who has also played for Manzini Wanderers. Even when he signed on the dotted line this season, it was Solly, who was influential in him doing so, as the coach knew Palma for some time, even during his time as South Africa’s National Under-20 coach. “They’ve had a good relationship so, yes, I think Palma is joining him at Black Leopards in the Patrice Motsepe League. I’m also impressed with Owuso, our Ghanaian and I think he’s a good replacement for Bereng,” Kgomongwe said.
Palma had a splendid game against his former team Swallows last Saturday, as the two traditional rivals met in the MoMo Cup 2023 play-offs at Mavuso Sports Centre. However, he was on the receiving end of a loss, as Swallows came back from behind in the second half to win 2-1. Efforts to get hold of Palma proved futile, as his mobile phone was not available on the networks from morning and after lunch. It was established Highlanders started their training session at 2:30pm and he was part of the session.
confirmed
“It’s just as the Chief has confirmed it to you already. We’ve also been informed of the latest and what can we do, a job is a job. This may be his last match indeed against Rangers on Sunday, which means we’re left with a big gap at the centre-back position,” one of the club’s available technical bench officials, Siyabonga Bhembe, who trained with the club yesterday ahead of Sunday’s tricky fixture, as Rangers have proven they were capable, first against Swallows who they were unfortunate to lose 2-1 in the match.They shocked army side, star-studded Young Buffaloes with a 2-1 defeat in the MTN Premier League, as reigning champions Green Mamba also fell to elite returnees Illovo with a 3-1 margin. Swallows had fallen behind for a prolonged period and did not look like scoring on the day, but they turned things around as they did in the derby match last Saturday. The red and white outfit has a date with Green Mamba again this weekend, following their 6-0 final meeting in the PLE Trade Fair Cup recently. Swallows got the wooden part of the spoon on the day. Meanwhile, there was no immediate from comment Solly, despite efforts to get through his South African number, while Palma was also tried again after training but his phone rang in vain.
