Ex-‘Birds’ defender’s future in limbo

MBABANE – Former Mbabane Swallows defender Thabo ‘Marikana’ Vilakati’s future is uncertain at Ezulwini United.

An impeccable source close to ‘The Stingers’ revealed that the towering defender was no longer with the team, following alleged misunderstandings with the team.

The source alleged that the bone of contention was sparked by minimum game time, which was aggravated by Vilakati missing training sessions.

“Thabo is missing from Ezulwini United. I heard that the team deregistered him as he failed to attend some of the team’s activities,” the source said.

The source also disclosed that another issue that made the Mphumelelo ‘Mapho’ Ngwenya-led side remove ‘Marikana’ from their roster was due to an injury which was taking time to heal and they believed that he came with it from his previous club.

Injury

“Marikana was also troubled by an old injury which forced him out in some of the games, which was not good, as the team was trying to move away from the relegation zone,” the source added.

The source said the player did not return to the club for the second stanza of the 2023/24 MTN Premier League season, as his last game in the team’s colours was against Nyanyali in the Ingwenyama Cup first round.

Deregistered

Meanwhile, ‘The Stingers’ executive member Nsindiso Tsabedze refuted the claims that the player had been deregistered from the team.

“That’s not true; we are still sorting something with the player. He still our player,” Tsabedze said.

He further said once they had sorted the matter with the player, they would then be in a position to give full details on his stance with the team.

It is worth mentioning that Marikana was deemed surplus to requirement by the red and white capital city giants in the second registration window period of the 2022/23 MTN Premier League season.

He was shown the exit door alongside young defender Triston Dunn and Zimbabwean James Nguluve.