Concern, Anger as South African Football Player Goes Missing in Eswatini

• A South African football player plying his trade in Eswatini is once again making headlines
• Mbabane Highlanders striker Jacob Lekata is reportedly facing being axed after going AWOL
• It is noted that this is not his first such offence, having previously missed training sessions

Jacob Lekata might have just worn out his welcome in Eswatini.

The South African striker has reportedly gone AWOL while in the employment of capital city giants, Mbabane Highlanders.

According to The Times of Swaziland, the incident began over the festive season. A source in the club saying he had not reported back to the training camp in the past two weeks, despite only being given Christmas and Boxing Day off.

“It cost him his place in the team, as the MD let him and others like Punch Masenamela leave to return to South Africa. He kept Lekata at Ally’s Tigers before bringing him back this season.”

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The club's managing director, Ally Kgomongwe angrily told the publication:

“I’m told it’s been almost two weeks since he was last seen at training and that means he’s AWOL, as nobody knows where he is or why he hasn’t returned. He’s going to face the music. In fact, he will be replaced with a much sharper and younger forward or winger in the upcoming window.”

FarPostZA reported that Lekata previously played for AmaZulu, which he left back in 2013.

Highlanders were knocked out in the preliminary round of the CAF Confederations Cup last September.

More violence mars Eswatini football

Sports Brief reported it was a bad ending to 2022, as far as the image of the Premier League of Eswatini is concerned.

Violence erupted during the derby match in the capital, between Mbabane Swallows and Mbabane Highlanders.

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Referee Thembinkosi Dlamini and his assistants, Zamane Simelane and Gcina Mamba had to flee from furious Swallows fans, following the club's 2-1 loss to their arch-rivals in mid-December.

Referee runs for his life

This was not the first time Highlanders supporters were brought into disrepute, Sports Brief also reported.

A match referee was captured on video running for his life, after angry fans stormed the pitch in a bid to beat him up.

Mbongeni Shongwe nearly fell victim to 'mob justice', after Highlanders fans invaded the pitch to 'deal with' poor officiating at the same Mavuso Sports Centre in Manzini, in November last year.