When he secured Moroka Swallows a stay of execution with yet another goal that delivered a crucial three points in their season-ending match – a 1-0 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic – Siyabonga Nomvethe was doing something that comes naturally.
Helping teams succeed is all that Nomvethe knows, the striker from KwaMashu having done so since turning professional with African Wanderers back in 1997.
Of course such was Abaqulusi’s nature as local football’s yo-yo team that even with his massive talent, Nomvethe couldn’t help them stay up – being snatched up as he was by Kaizer Chiefs almost immediately after making an impression in the elite league.
And even when he played in Italy for lowly Udinese, Nomvethe’s star always shone amidst mediocrity.
It has been the same at Swallows were season after season for the man who also turned out for Orlando Pirates, performing admirably there despite the team being generally disappointing.
It was due to his goals that the Birds came oh, so close to winning the championship four seasons ago. Swallows finishing second then, behind the Buccaneers in a race that went all the way to the final day of the season.
Swallows will once again look to Bhele to deliver the goods as they seek to avoid relegation via the play-offs. And tonight they begin that quest when they host a Black Leopards side that has already chalked up three points via a 2-0 victory over Jomo Cosmos.
Swallows welcome a Leopards outfit coached by their former coach Zeca Marques, who should know Nomvethe very well having worked with him for no less than two seasons.
But whatever tricks Marques comes up to keep the veteran striker on a leash, there is always a chance Nomvethe will come out trumps.
He has been doing it for many seasons, the former South African Footballer-of-the-Year outrunning, outplaying and outscoring many a players much younger than him. At 38-years-old, he should be considering retirement – with many players hanging up their boots at a much younger age.
But the man who represented South Africa at both the Olympics and the World Cup is still going strong and a fortnight ago, after he kept Swallows’ hope of survival in the elite league alive, he spoke of how he will still be around next season.
Many will hope it is in the PSL. For that to happen though Swallows will have to be top of the three-team table come June 3 when the play-offs come to an end. Against teams as lethal up-front as Leopards and Cosmos have been in the National First Division this season, it will take some doing, especially given Swallows’ pathetic defending which largely contributed to their finishing second bottom in the Premiership.
But with Nomvethe in their aviary, the Birds can always rest assured that the goals will come. All they need do, especially tonight, is to make sure that Roggert Nyundu in particular gets no sight of goal.
And the Swallows defence is also sure to have it hard keeping a close check on free scoring midfielder Siphelele Ntshan-gase who was on target against Cosmos at the weekend.
It is going to take some doing for Swallows to retain their Premiership status and Nomvethe will be key to them doing so. - The Star