WeeklySA_AdminEXCITING LEFT WING: Samuel Mnkomo one of the legendary Moroka Swallows forwards
By Masoja Cele
On his day cultured and stylish Samuel ‘’Happy-Cow ‘’Mnkomo was untouchable in the field of play. His skill and trickery left many defenders sprawling on the turf like fumigated flies, to the delight of his teammates and the fans.
Its almost 30 years since Mnkomo decided to hang his boots in 1992, having left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of especially Moroka Swallows where his star shone the brightest.
Looking back the left winger only has fond memories of his playing days. The boy who started playing football at age six in Wesselton, Ermelo in Mpumalanga, would grow to rub shoulders with stalwarts like Meshack ‘’Wonder’’ Mjanqeka, Kenneth ‘’ The Horse’’ Mokgojoa, the captain Richard ‘’Litre’’Lata, and Peter ‘’Blue-Monday’’ Sejake when he made his debut in pro football by joining erstwhile formidable outfit Benoni United.
A game that he will never forget was the gruelling BP Cup final they played against Soweto giants Orlando Pirates in his debut season. In the Pirates arsenal were the likes of Patson ‘’Sparks’’ Banda, Ephraim ‘’Jomo’’ Sono, Webster ‘’City-Late’’Dichaba, Phil ‘’ Jones Setshedi, Johannes ‘’Big-Boy’’ Kholoane, who formed the spinal column of the Bucs team
‘’ Yeah, what a football spectacle? It was a nerve wrecking affair with the proceeding swaying from end to end. We lost that final 4-3 on aggregate after they beat us 3-0 in the first leg in Durban. After a successful five successful years at The Rabbits, he later quit the ‘’Onogwaja ’’ burrow to settle in the Moroka Swallows Limited’s oviary.
’ My transfer deal to Swallows involved a swapped transaction that saw former Dube Birds utility player the late Andries ‘’ Six Panyaza’’ Maseko moving the opposite direction. This was an exciting contract for me as ‘’Izinyoni Ezibomvu’’ offered me a hefty salary of R400 a month while at United I earned R40 a week’’.
Playing under the shrewd mentorship of Mario ‘’The Godfather’’Tuani’, Mnkhomo remembers the in the final of the prestigious Mainstay Cup Final against another polished opponent Witbank Black Aces at the jam-packed Ellis Park Stadium.
‘’Amaziyoni’’as Aces was affectionately called in football circles played entertaining football. They were a menace against any opposition. They swanked artistic playing personnel that included the late Steve ‘’Disco’’Makua, Nick ‘’Bazzoka’’ Seshweni, the evergreen Thomas ‘’Junior ‘’Ngobe, their reliable goalkeeper Cyprian ‘’Mahala’’ Maimane. Nonetheless, we beat Aces 1-0 with the courtesy of ‘’Ace’’ Mnini’s thunderous goal in extra-time’’ says Mnkomo.
Following the appointment of a new coach at Swallows – Stanley Tshabalala, it was clear Mnkomo was not on the mentor’s plans and was loaned to the now defunct Durban Bush Bucks on a one-year loan deal in 1987.
He returned to Swallows where he soldiered on until he decided to hang his boots five years later in 1992.
After hanging up his soccer boots the former midfielder had to devised a plan to earn a living so he could provide for himself and his family.
“Currently, I own three delivery vans and I have employed two drivers and I operate the third bakkie,” he says.
The footballer turned businessman seemingly lost to football “forever”, decries the level of our football which he says has declined tremendously. “I still miss the skill of the legendary Mecro ‘’ Masterpieces’’Moripe, the stylish Mlungisisi ‘’Professor’’Ngubane, the dribbling wizard Joel ‘’Ace’’ Mnini, Ephraim ‘’Jomo’’ Sono, the late Pule ‘’Ace’’Ntsoelongoe, Nelson ‘’Teenage’’Dladla, just to quote a few.’
“You don’t come across such talent today,” he says.
