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MBABANE – They have finally made their biggest catch.
Young Buffaloes have signed elite rookies Madlenya’s prolific forward Njabulo Maziya, after having agreed on terms for his transfer yesterday afternoon in the presence of the club chairman Juluka Gamedze.
The player was recently awarded the MTN Player of the Month award for December and impeccable sources have said the army side were not the only team that wanted the services of the sharp shooter, as Moneni Pirates and rivals in Green Mamba almost snatched the player, who is currently on 10 league goals in the league.
He is one goal behind leading top scorer in Mbabane Swallows’ Felix Badernhorst.
Banging
“Buffaloes were really serious about getting the player, who they believed would help share the load with Sandile Gamedze and Phiwa Dlamini tasked with banging in goals in the army side. The player has been interested in joining the army side. He has been interested in getting the army job for some time now. The player was cleared and Buffaloes had to buy the player, with the army side believed to have put in around E50 000 for the player,” the source said.
The source also said Buffaloes were rushing against time to register the player, so he makes his official debut game when the Mandla ‘Stofu’ Dlamini side takes on a struggling Denver Sundowns on Saturday afternoon at Mavuso Sports Centre. The army side have notably been in the market for a striker and it seems they have soundly found their top target in Maziya, who is currently banging in the goals in the PLE.
Madlenya Director Juluka Maziya when contacted said he was sad to see his player leave but was happy that he was going to a team that would look after him .
‘‘Njabulo is a very respectful player who takes his football very serious. We are very sad to see him leave the
team especially because he was banging in the goals for the team and had made a deadly partnership with Sethu Ngcamphalala. We wish him the best of luck as Madlenya FC and we give him our full blessings that he must go and represent us very well with his new team,’’ he said.
The forward is 28 years old and has been the best thing to ever happen to Madlenya in the maiden elite season and Madlenya’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Nokwazi Gamedze shared same sentiments with the club chairman, that the player would be deeply be missed inside and outside of the football pitch .
Survive
‘‘Losing Njabulo is a big blow in the club because he was our top striker scoring in almost every game but we will survive. We wish him the best of luck with his new club and he should always know that Madlenya will always be his home,” she said.
Buffaloes Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sandile Gwebu could not be drawn for comment after his cellphone was not available when called for the better part of the day yesterday.
The former Manzini Wanderers, Sikhalo seAfrica and Rail United player said he was happy to join the army side.
‘‘I’m happy about joining Buffaloes, a team that is competing in the league and I’m ready to continue where I left off with Madlenya. I just want to thank Madlenya for making the transfer happen. I wish the club the best as the season continues and they will always be my home,” he said.
Meanwhile, Maziya’s new team, under the guidance of Mandla ‘Stofu’ Dlamini sit on position two and just a point behind new log leaders in Green Mamba, who are on 31 points after 14 MTN League games.