‘Y’ello’ Team of the Season

2023-05-17 - BY MENGAMELI MABUZA

MBABANE - The season has come to an end, with Green Mamba winning the Premier League title for the third time since the team was founded in 1987.

It was a season full of entertainment and excellence, with some of the best players in the country showcasing their ability for their respective teams. There were some shocking results alongside some brilliant performances and it was the Ernest Mavuso-led side that won the title which was also the gaffer’s first as a coach. Mavuso’s charges had to dig deep into their reserves of courage last Sunday at Nsukuwansuku Stadium to survive a nerve-wrecking title race at the expense of Royal Leopard. The latter lost 1-2. The Correctional Services side further got a ticket to represent the country in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League. Runners-up Young Buffaloes will be the country’s envoys in the second-tier tournament styled CAF Confederation Cup.

With the curtain fully closed on the campaign, the Times Sports Desk has picked their MTN Premier League best XI for 2022-23 campaign based on the performance since the season started last September 2022.

1. Khanyakwezwe Shabalala (Mbabane Highlanders)

The former Eswatini international established him as one of the best goalkeepers in the league and he was also a key player for Highlanders conceding the fewest number of goals in the league, as they pushed for the top four. The shot-stopper kept 16 clean sheets in 24 matches for his side and is expected to be a strong candidate to win the Goalkeeper of the Season award together with Young Buffaloes’ Mlungisi Nxumalo, who has also done fairly well for Amathole Ezinyathi, as Young Buffaloes are fondly known.

2. Sphesihle Nsimbini (Moneni Pirates)

Sphesihle must be one of the most nailed-on choices for this year’s Team of the Season. The right-back provided many assists in the Premier League this campaign, helping the ‘Sea Robbers’ of Moneni also when it was time to defend. The Buffaloes development player also produced good defensive performances and he made marauding runs forward, being a threat to opposition defence with his dangerous timely crosses. What made Sphesihle the best right-full back in the country has been the ability to use his pace to attack and defend at the same time for his Moneni Pirates team that finished in seventh place.

3. Delisa Gama (Mbabane Highlanders)

One of the best left-backs in the league this season, Delisa’s resurgence has been wonderful to see; the Highlanders all-rounder could probably slot in any position in both defence and midfield. Once again in 2022-23, he showed us how integral he is to the Inkunzi Emnyama team that finished in the top four bracket. The lanky left back was a consistent performer for the Solly Luvhengo-coached side and he remains one of the top left-backs in the country. Good in the tackle and neat on the ball, Delisa was a key member of the Highlanders defence which conceded 17 goals from 26 matches, making it the best defensive record in the league.

4. Kwayki Kingsley (Mbabane Swallows)

The Ghanaian defender proved once again this season why he is an integral part of Caleb Ngwenya-led team that finished in the third spot this season. An experienced campaigner at the heart of their defence, the defender proved to be vital in Umkhonto KaShaka conceding 19 goals in the league, the second best joint defensive shared together with Young Buffaloes. Kingsley does not only defend brilliantly, but he chips in with important goals when needed; that alone makes him an asset to any team he plays for. And everyone would acknowledge he has been one of the country’s best in his position this season.

5. Sibongakonkhe Silenge (Green Mamba)

The league winners’ defender who was signed from Pigg’s Peak-based side Msumpe United, is a prospect for the future but he is already playing with the poise of a veteran despite being just 23 years. Arguably one of the best centre-backs in the country at the moment, Silenge has proved to be a shrewd acquisition by Green Mamba. A ball-playing centre-back who is excellent in the air, the future leader of Green Mamba has been an ever-present for the club since he signed at the start of the season. Silenge’s importance to the Correctional Services side’s defence was felt in the last few Premier League games when he was out with an injury, as the likes of Banele Dlamini, Mxolisi Manana and Colani Dlamini struggled without his presence.

6. Siboniso Ngwenya (Young Buffaloes)

Any Premier League midfield without him is incomplete. The Buffaloes midfielder had another good season and he remained an influential player in the team. ‘Gaxa’ was one of the most consistent performers this season. His contributions often go unnoticed, but they matter all the time. He has been the engine of the team in many senses. And in the absence of becoming a regular goal contributor – which is not a necessity for his role – the Amathole Ezinyathi anchor-man is now swiftly running out of boxes to tick.

7. Mthunzi ‘Xavi’ Mkhontfo (Green Mamba)

In his fourth season as an undisputed starter for Inyoka Eluhlazane, ‘Xavi’ made further strides in rounding out his game as a central midfielder. At the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign, there is little doubting that the 28-year-old is now among the best in the Premier League in his position. Mthunzi’s growing authority as a midfielder this season was most clearly visible in how he ran with the ball. Alongside his natural defensive qualities and neat passing, the Correctional Services man added a real drive to his game in 2022-23, featuring frequent bursts though the centre of the pitch causing havoc for many teams in the league.

8. Mxolisi ‘Kudus’ Mkhonto (Green Mamba)

Kudus capped off a wonderful individual campaign for Green Mamba by netting on the final day in a game that sealed the title. They defeated rivals Royal Leopard 2-1 last Sunday in Mhlume. The box-to-box midfielder’s creativity is hardly a secret, but stopping him has once again proven almost impossible, with his high intensity pressing off the ball just as essential to Ernest Mavuso ’s team – he certainly has the knack of grabbing matches by the scruff of the neck and driving his team to victory. The Green Mamba captain who finished on nine goals was arguably the best player in the league during the 2022/23 season as he inspired his side to the title.

9. Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa (Green Mamba)

The Eswatini centre forward quickly became a reliable goalscorer for Green Mamba after joining the club last Au- gust in what was the most talked about transfers. He joined the league winners together with Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu. Blessed with great finishing and aerial threat, ‘Sikhali’ scored 12 goals and was the league winners’ main man as he has carried the side this season, leading them to the top of the table. The Inyoka Eluhlazane vice captain has been typically ultra-consistent and also added more assists to his game which include, among others, two in his side’s last game against Leopard, with the former Swallows hitman providing a man of the match performance.

10. Felix Badenhorst (Mbabane Swallows)

It was a stellar season for the Mbabane Swallows attacking midfielder after scoring 20 goals; making him the top goalscorer of the season ahead of Njabulo Maziya and former teammate Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa. Mbabane Swallows endured a poor league campaign, but without Felix’s contributions, it is hard to envisage Swallows’position in the league table. He was throughout the season causing havoc to defenders with his very good aerial presence which earned him the Golden Boot award .The former Jomo Cosmos player will be among the players likely to win the player of the season award.

11. Bongwa Matsebula (Young Buffaloes)

Owa might be the most versatile player in the Premier League. Can anyone else play as a boxto-box number eight, a left winger, and as a false nine, all at the top level? How many can be used as a pressing demon in a front two when defending, while also possessing the composure and press resistance to collect the ball from their goalkeeper in their own box? The Buffaloes midfielder is all of those things, but he is so much more into scoring many goals for the Mandla ‘Stofu’ Dlamini team that pressed eventual league winners Green Mamba for the title which was decided on the last day. The Buffaloes youngster scored a hat-trick in the last day of the league in a game against Tambankulu Callies, with Amathole Ezinyathi walking away with a comfortable 4-0 victory at Tambankulu Stadium.