I was a keeper, deadly striker - ‘Scorpion’
MBABANE – Former Madlangempisi Member of Parliament (MP) Sibusiso ‘Scorpion’ Nxumalo reveals how he was converted from being one of the best goalkeepers to a lethal striker the country ever produced.
He also tells us that he was in the same school with the country’s top brass official in Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane. Be blessed as he takes us down memory lane.
TS – Good day Mnguni and welcome to the Legends Corner
Scorpion - Thanks Mr Fakudze for having me here.
TS – I am good Nxumalo, please tell the reader who is Sibusiso Nxumalo.
Scorpion – I am Sibusiso ‘Scorpion’ Nxumalo, I have a couple of hats in my name. However, I come from Nkambeni, Madlangempisi Inkhundla in Ntfuntini Umphakatsi under Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe. Professionally I am an accountant; businessman and I had a very interesting run in politics representing Madlangempisi Inkhundla in the last term. In football I am currently Marketing Executive for the Premier League of Eswatini.
TS - Tell us how you got hooked in the sport loved by millions
Scorpion - I was a ball boy for our local teams at Mhlume stadium around 1979; this is where I fell in with the sport.
TS - So tell the reader how you started playing the sport.
Scorpion - I played for the juniors of Mhlume Peacemakers, where we won the Chappies Little League in 1989. That is how I was introduced into the game as a goalkeeper. Our team consisted the likes of France ‘Mbayimbayi’ Fraiser, Mlungisi ‘Madzala’Ngubane, my Brother Sipho ‘Sicwayi’ Nxumalo and Sipho Mavuso
TS - What a cream. Who inspired you to be a goalkeeper?
Scorpion – Yes. It was Diffuse Lukhele who influenced me to start my career in goal. You will be surprised that I then converted to be a striker as I always wanted to replicate Thabo ‘Touch’ Dlamini and David ‘Botsotso’ Manyatsi.
TS - Come on, you also played as a striker, ha ha ha?
Scorpion - Yes, I made a dramatic move from the poles to be a lethal striker in the kingdom. I also got a call-up to the national team to play as striker with late Sipho ‘Shisa gesi’ Mdluli and Mhlonishwa ‘President’ Zwane.
TS - How was your performance at Sihlangu as a striker?
Scorpion - I regard it as effective as we beat
Botswana 2-0 in Gaborone, drew with Zambia 1-1 at Somhlolo. Unfortunately my career was disturbed when I broke my leg playing interdepartmental games at Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation where I worked. Upon return I found that The Sugar Mill decided to form a merger of the teams Mhlume Peacemakers, Mhlume FC and Simunye FC into one team which was called Mhlume United. This is when I then decided to join Manzini Wanderers.
TS – How was your spell at the ‘Weslians’? Scorpion - It was a fantastic career. I scored goals for them and provided killer assists because I was a master dribbler with the ball. I played alongside Junior ‘Shisa’ Mdluli, Jerry ‘Mbazo’ Gamedze, Berger Nxumalo and Doctor Nxumalo. We had a fantastic run with the Weslians. I have a soft spot for them, though I am a Peacemaker at heart.
TS - Lol, how did you end up being called ‘Scorpion’?
Scorpion - I got the name from St John Bosco High by one of my English teacher, who nicknamed me ‘Scorpion’. The name got traction when my Captain Musa ‘Zane’ Luhlanga decided to write it in the team list to Sgayoyo Magongo, our legendary soccer commentator. It then became my brand name in my football journey. I was playing with some of the leaders in football today in the likes of my Chairman
Mark Carmichael, PLE ExCo Polycarp Dlamini, EFA President ‘Samora’ Simelane, Moneni ‘Osborne’ Nzima to name a few
TS - Ha ha ha you played with Eswatini Football leaders
Scorpion - Yes I can say we are in the same regiment if I can call it that way. All my teammates in the national team are in various leadership positions in football in the country.
TS - Which game will always linger in your mind and why?
Scorpion - I remember a game we played with Mbabane City at Simunye Stadium and I scored the fastest goal in 26 seconds after the start of the game.
TS - Yeah, then you jumped into politics after you retired, what made you to be a politician?
Scorpion - I am from a generation of politicians my father Dr Sishayi Nxumalo was an astute politician, Chief Madzanga was a former Senator, Chief Ndlaluhlaza is a current politician, my sister Trusty Gina, Senator Lorraine Nxumalo. Politics run in our blood.
TS - Oh I see Mnguni if given a chance to be an EFA President what changes would you bring in our soccer?
Scorpion - Firstly I would want to turn our football to be fully professional. I will ensure that the leagues from regional are categorised by age so that we have a structured feeder system for the national leagues and teams. To professionalise Eswatini is pretty easy, we need to position our football as a message carrier for the private sector to its consumers in order to generate grant fund for the teams.
TS - Thanks for your time Mnguni. Scorpion - It was good having me here Ntolo.
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