Noel Munzabwa
ESWATINI football has really swallowed two former Caps United players Cabby Kamhapa and Steven Makatuka who look set to see through their two-and- a-half year long contracts at outgoing champions Mbabane Swallows.
The Zimbabwe duo arrived at Swallows as January window transfer ins and have played several matches with Makatuka having featured in all league and cup matches as Kamhapa was limited to fewer starts and substitute cameo appearances.
With worry they might find their way out of the Birds (as Swallows are affectionately known) nest after the club’s faltering season which threatens to end trophy-less, this week Kamhapa said he was going to utilise the remaining matches to build his way into the starting 11.
“It’s unfortunate I had to wait a little longer before being fully registered as the club awaited the foreign quota slot to be available. I will fight my way into the first team and probably come next season I will be a regular just like Steven.
“We are coping well to the new environment and the quality is not much different between Zimbabwe soccer and Swaziland soccer though the expectations at Swallows are much higher. The club has a winning attitude in the veins and has to live to that.
“As a big club here we have to give it our all if not more than our all and it’s always encouraging to be surrounded by some of this country’s finest players such as Tony (Tsabedze) and Wonder (Nhleko) who won almost everything on offer. I am committed to see through the contract,” said Kamhapa.
The load on the shoulders of Swallows players could prove heavier should the team fail to qualify for any of the forthcoming Caf Club tournaments set to kick off in June.
Police ensemble Royal Leopards have shut the 2019/20 Total Caf Confederations Cup door firmly on Mbabane Swallows after a 4-3 penalty Eswatini Bank Cup triumph last month in a quarter final match played at Somhlolo National Stadium.
The last of the four quarters had ended a one-all stalemate first stretched to two hours of action but it had to take the lottery kicks to see the Leopards claw and send the Birds flying out of contention for the Caf Confederations Cup race.
So prominent a feature have been Swallows playing in the African safari in the last six years but it has to be the 2017 and 2018 group stage qualification for the CCC and Caf Champions League respectively that marked the crescendo.
Even the remaining Caf Club tournament qualification remains very remote as Leopards, on 48 points are just two points away from “disqualifying” Swallows, on 41 points in the MTN Premier League of Eswatini which could firmly shut the Total CAF Champions League door as well.
Kamhapa who had stints at Chicken Inn and Caps United among others had to wait for the clearance of Sierra Leone born former Swallows star Sallieu Tarawallie who has joined Icelandic second-tier side Víkingur Ólafsvík on a one-year deal with an option to extend from childhood club Giant of Grassfield FC.
@NoelMunzabwa
