It was taboo to change clubs – ‘Harare’
MBABANE – Former national team Sihlangu and Mbabane Highlanders defender Simon ‘Harare’ Thwala revealed the reason why he never played for another team apart from Inkunzi Emnyama, as he says it was taboo to change clubs back in the day.
Thwala also encourages youngsters to take sports serious, but above all he says education is key. Meanwhile, he has a message to Sihlangu players ahead of their 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) preliminary match against Somalia next month. Enjoy your Sunday as he takes you down memory lane.
TS - Good day Tfwala and welcome to the Legends Corner.
Harare - Greetings Fakudze-thank for having me in the Legends corner.
TS - Please share with the reader, who Harare Tfwala is?
Harare – I am from a football family, my father and elder brother played for Mhlambanyatsi Rovers and I also wanted to also run the race. Simon Tfwala is from Bhikini, under Sigangeni chiefdom.
TS - How did you get hooked to the sport loved by millions?
Harare – As I said I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my uncle, as community boys we used to play soccer and schools sports. I started playing at Ntfonjeni High.
TS – Really and what was the first team that launched your football career?
Harare – When I was doing high school, I stayed at LFTC at Gesawu in northern Hhohho. There was this old man, the principal of the centre, Thobela. He formed this team called Mjaji Callies. That is where I started playing with a lot of guys from Msahweni.
TS - Oh, Mjaji is where William ‘Cool Cat’ Shongwe played too. Did you play with him there?
Harare - Yes I played with Cool Cat at Ntfonjeni High School team and he was also my teammate at Mjaji Callies, before he relocated to the capital city to St Mark’s High.
TS - Did you play for Rovers where your uncle played?
Harare – No I didn’t play for Rovers as just when they were about to register me; the late Mzomba Tsela came and snatched me to Artisan in transit to Mbabane Highlanders. Oh yes! At Artisan I played less than five games then the rest was history.
TS - Oh it was Tsela who recommended you to Highlanders?
Harare – Yes I will always be grateful to Mzomba and may his soul rest in peace.
TS - Please share with the reader how you ended up being called ‘Harare’?
Harare – I got the nickname from a Mbabane Highlanders guy, who used to sit in the glass house at the Somhlolo National Stadium. I don’t know the reason behind, but it stuck to me until today.
TS - Which year did you join the Bull and who were the senior players that you found there?
Harare – I joined Highlanders around 1981 if I am not mistaken. Wow! What a bunch of talented players I found there, the likes of Phillip Msimango, Cutter Mamba, Puma Kunene, Obed Mlotsa, Ace Jele, Kaizer Zini, Ace Mashwama, Gebi Zwane, Teenage Dladla, Muzi Dladla, Jotham Simelane, eish the list is endless bru.
TS - How was the reception? Didn’t you feel intimidated by the stars you found there?
Harare - This was a very supportive team all they wanted was total commitment; they really helped me to easily adapt to culture of the team.
TS - Did the senior players give you any advice on how to conduct yourself as a Mbabane Highlanders player?
Harare – Jah apart from the players, we had committed officials, who guided us to prepare ourselves even after retirement. Iyooh! They were so fatherly. I would like to send a big thank you to them.
TS - Yeah, when was your first game for Highlanders against which opponents?
Harare – Eish! Ntolo, I can not remember well, but I think it was against Bulembu Aces at the Somhlolo National Stadium.
TS - How was the atmosphere at the stadium? Were you not nervous, lol?
Harare – The atmosphere at the stadium was always buzzing back in our days. I was a bit nervous, but I had great understanding with Maria and Kaizer, who were always encouraging to push myself to the limit.
TS - Please share with us your journey in the national team. When was your first senior team call-up?
Harare - My first Sihlangu call-up was in 1982 by the late coach Ted Dimutru.
TS - How was the reception at Sihlangu and who were the senior player you found there?
Harare – The reception was fair, as a number of players came from Highlanders and I found a number of good players, the likes of Landcruiser, Zandamela, Chain Mkhatshwa, Maria Fakudze, Scara Thindwa, Scara Gama, Dodge, Dumsane Mlambo as well as Landers players.
TS - Did you play for another club in the country apart from Highlanders?
Harare - I had no reason to play for another club as this was by far the best assembled team in the country by led by Jani ‘Be good’ Simulambo. I gave Mbabane Swallows Mkhari Dube and Disco Lukhele.
TS - Which game will always linger in your mind and why?
Harare - It has to be the game against the Egyptians at Somhlolo, but our starting 11 was disrupted as Piet, our left back got an accident on his way to the stadium, thus we had to alter our defence. However it was a good game that will always be in my mind, even though I can’t quite remember the score.
TS - What message can you give to youngsters, who want to follow in your footsteps?
Harare - The only message that I can give to youngsters is that they should take sports serious and dream big, rewards will follow through hard work. However they must know that above all education is key.
TS - How is the standard of the sport now compared back in the day?
Harare - I feel I may be bias in comparing the standards, as we played solely for the badge of the club that is why it was taboo to change clubs. There was that loyal belief in almost all players in their respective clubs. As for now its financial gain so I can not, therefore, compare.
TS – Yeah I see! If it has dropped, what do you think is the challenge?
Harare - Maybe the social space somehow has some destruction mentally; it calls for trained tacticians to fine-tune our players to better than the yesteryears crop.
TS - Who is your current best player in the country so far?
Harare – Eish, I cannot answer you on that as I don’t always watch the games.
TS - What message can you give to Sihlangu players as they prepare for the AFCON preliminary against Somalia?
Harare – I would encourage them to work hard and eliminate Somalia and that would boost their confidence, which will bring some hope to emaSwati.
TS - Given the opportunity to be Eswatini Football Association President, what changes could you bring to our sport?
Harare - If truth be told, good players are underprivileged in the regions. I would take development structures to the regions, bring back organised school sports and lastly the stadium mess has to be sorted the soonest.
TS - Thanks for your time Shivakati. Harare – I am so humbled for having me in your column Mntolo. God bless!
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