Leopard recall ‘General’
MBABANE – He is back.
That is former senior national team star midfielder Mxolisi ‘General’ Lukhele. The former Moneni Pirates star has been recalled by his club, Royal Leopard. It was established that the team’s technical bench led by Edwin Matsebula decided to bring him back ahead of the 2021/22 season.
“Mxolisi is our player.
He is training with the team after the coaches recalled him and they were assessing if we can use him again this season,” Leopard PRO Frank Hurube said.
Hurube said when Lukhele was released last season alongside others like striker Barry Steenkamp; he was loaned to his former club, Pirates. He said he was of the players busy with preparations for the new season ahead at the Matsapha Police Academy.
The player also confirmed his recall.
“I’m back with Leopard. I was recalled,” he briefly said.
Meanwhile, he returns to the club in the midst of their crucial TOTALEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2021/22 match against Algeria’s JS Kabyile end of this month and early December. The first leg will be away on month-end before the second leg is played at Mavuso Sports Centre, Manzini. If they win the two-legged match; they will be off to the group stage. Initially, Leopard were in the CAF Champions League but lost to Angola’s Grupo Desportivo Sagrada Esperanca on a 3-2 aggregate.
Lukhele is an experienced ‘horse’ having played the continental club tournaments before with Leopard and also travelled with Sihlangu. Domestically, the defending MTN Premier League champions will kick off the new season against Mbabane Swallows in the opening match postponed last week by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE).