BY SABELO GWEBU
MBABANE – Denver Sundowns’ dynamic midfielder Siphamandla Maseko has been selected into the Africa Soccer Zone team of the week.
The twinkle-toed midfielder gave a man of the match performance, scoring a brace and providing one assist as the ‘Kappa Boys’ as Sundowns are fondly called put Manzini Wanderers to the sword with a 5-0 drubbing in an MTN Premier League clash this past weekend.
Siphamandla’s recognition is long overdue and as a team we are very happy for him. In the league, we dominate when it comes to ball playing players especially in midfield even though national team coaches continuously overlook our players.
“Ours is to guide them and make these players realise that there are a lot of opportunities on the line. We have a South African assessment in the pipeline for him,” said Sundowns Chief Executive Officer Elvis Dube.
The team of the week has Nigeria’s Rivers United goalkeeper Darlington Ovunda between the sticks and has three defenders in the 3-4-3 formation in Fitina Omborenga of APR Kigali in Rwanda, Zambia’s Green Buffaloes’ Chilimba Moonga and Tunisia-born left back Ali Maaloul who plays for Al Ahly in Egypt.
Siphamandla lines up in midfield with South Africa’s Orlando Pirates star Monnapule Saaleng, Linda Mtange of Ghanaian giants’ Hearts of Oak and Aubin Kouame of ASEC Mimosa.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ game-a-goal forward Peter Shalulile, Mabululu of Primeiro de Agosto in Angola and Congolese striker Andy Boyeli who plays for Power Dynamos of Zambia complete the attack upfront.
AFRICA SOCCER ZONE TEAM OF THE WEEK
Goalkeeper: Darlington Ovunda (Rivers United, Nigeria)
Defenders: Fitina Omborenga (APR Kigali, Rwanda), Chilimba Moonga (Green Buffaloes, Zambia) and Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly, Egypt)
Midfielders: Siphamandla Maseko (Denver Sundowns, Eswatini), Linda Mtange (Hearts of Oak, Ghana), Monnapule Saaleng (Orlando Pirates, South Africa) and Aubin Kouame (ASEC Mimosa, Ivory Coast)Strikers: Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Mabululu (Primeiro de Agosto, Angola) and Andy Boyeli (Power Dynamos, Zambia)
Photos by Mhlengi D Photography
