Mbabane: The country’s most decorated coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati has blasted the standard of the current foreign players.
Speaking to Eswatini TV’s Phathizwe Msibi in Thursday night’s Sport Show, Vilakati lamented that the foreign players imported lately are not adding value to our football compared to those of the good old years.
“The quality is not the same. Wanderers brought Kinnah Phiri and he came with an exciting dimension. When Wanderers wanted to score, they will go to the wings and bring crosses as Kinnah was good in the air,” the strategist said as he made an example of the celebrated Malawi international.
‘Koki’ continues in his outblast making an example of Zambia-born Jani Simulambo who he credits for introducing carpet football with quick transition at Mbabane Highlanders.
“Football was developing and it was the same case with Happy Simfukwe at Moneni Pirates before he later joined Green Mamba.”
An intrigued Vilakati said he does not need a foreign player to sit on the bench in his team.
“Maybe he (foreigner) is earning more and depriving a pupil from Lobamba in the team with the same quality.”
He goes on to pay tribute to yesteryears team owners who recruited only top quality from outside the borders, making another fine example of Burundian international Saidi ‘Chocolate’ Shabani who dazzled at the famed red and white of Mbabane Swallows.
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