adminPetros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
IS this the end of the road for Thomas Sweswe?
After a long career spanning 14 years and having played for nine clubs, the former Warriors centre-back finds himself starring a bleak future in the South African Premiership after a serious knee injury appears to have wrecked his career at ambitious Bidvest Wits University.
At 32, Sweswe is on the twilight of his career but it is his long-term injury, which has kept him out of action for over half-a-year, which is now threatening to bring to a halt his romance with the South African top-flight game.
Although Sweswe has resumed training and is understood to be working hard on regaining his fitness, he not been registered by Bidvest for the remainder of the 2013-14 season and could, in fact, be out of contract by the time the next transfer window opens in that country.
Despite the future being bleak for Sweswe, Bidvest Wits general manager George Mogotsi yesterday insisted the steely defender was still their player, at least, until his contract runs out in June.
Mogotsi, speaking from Johannesburg, chose to be diplomatic, claiming that the club was only awaiting the greenlight from their medical crew before Sweswe can resume his career with the Clever Boys.
“Thomas is not well, he is still injured and it will all depend on how he feels. He is a very good player but for now we can only wait for him to gain full fitness, he has started training and I am sure once he gets a clean bill of health from the medical crew that has been working on him the coach (Gavin Hunt) will make a decision.
“He also now has his permanent residence permit so that means he is not affected by the number of foreign players at the club,’’ Mogotsi said.
Repeated efforts to contact Sweswe did not bear fruit but the centre-back, who joined from Kaizer Chiefs, is one of five Zimbabwean players on the books of Wits with the others being former Warriors skipper Benjani Mwaruwari, midfielders Tinashe Nengomasha and Denver Mukamba and leftback Onismor Bhasera.
Another Zimbabwean on Wits’ books is former Warriors left back Charles Yohane, who is now a youth coach in charge of the club’s Under-16 boys.
Although Mogotsi seemed to suggest that Wits were just awaiting the greenlight from the team doctors before Sweswe can swing back into action, the club gave their biggest hint that they could be releasing him by omitting his name from their 30-man squad that is registered with the Premier Soccer League.
Bhasera is the only Zimbabwean included among the 10 defenders registered by Wits while Nengonmasha and Mukamba are on the 11-man midfield list and Benjani is the most experienced forward among the Clever Boys five attackers.
Sweswe began his career with CAPS United in 2001 and moved to the now defunct Sporting Lions the following season.
He then switched to Real United in Division One in 2003 but was soon back in the Premiership signing for Highlanders.
The tough defender’s exploits then saw him make his maiden dance with the South African top-flight when he joined Manning Rangers in August 2004 but he did not stay long at the Durban club before returning home to join Dynamos.
After a brief stint with DeMbare, Sweswe joined Bindura outfit Mwana Africa, who had just won promotion into the Premiership in 2006, winning the CBZ Cup that earned the side a ticket to play in the Confederation Cup the following year.
Online Reporter