Muzi Tsabedze

Muzi Tsabedze
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-09-23) 23 September 1998 (age 26)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Manzini Sea Birds
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Manzini Sea Birds
International career‡
2014–2017 Eswatini U20
2015 Eswatini U23
2020– Eswatini 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:16, 29 July 2023 (UTC)

Muzi Tsabedze (born 23 September 1998) is a Liswati footballer who plays as a forward for Manzini Sea Birds and the Eswatini national team.

Club career

Tsabedze played his first season of top-flight football in 2012–13 with the newly-promoted Manzini Sea Birds, notably scoring in a victory over 12-time champions Mbabane Highlanders.[1] The following season he scored a gamewinner against Manzini Wanderers, another giant of Swazi football.[2] After years of struggling at the bottom of the table, the team was finally relegated after the 2016–17 season.

In the second-tier, Tsabedze led the Manzini Sea Birds to a league title in 2017–18 and promotion back into the MTN Premier League.[3][4] He also earned league player of the year honors after finishing as the joint-top scorer with 14 goals.[3][5] On 2 December 2018 Tsabedze scored in a 4–1 win over Manzini Wanderers and earned man of the match honors; The Times of Swaziland called him "eccentric" and "a handful with his pace and skill."[6]

International career

Tsabedze received his first callup to the Eswatini under-20s at the age of 15.[7] He later played a significant role at the 2017 COSAFA U-20 Cup in Zambia, scoring against Malawi and Uganda in group play.[8][9] He also represented the Eswatini U23s during 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualification, netting a goal against Zimbabwe.[10]

Tsabedze was called up to the senior national team ahead of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.[11] He made his debut in a Group I fixture against Congo on 12 November 2020, replacing Phiwayinkhosi Dlamini during the 2–0 loss.[12]

Career statistics

International

As of 1 February 2021[12]
Eswatini
Year Apps Goals
2020 1 0
2021 0 0
Total 1 0

Honours

Club

Manzini Sea Birds
  • National First Division: 2017–18

Individual

  • National First Division player of the season: 2017–18[5]
  • National First Division top scorer: 2017–18 (shared)[3]

References

  1. ^ Ntiwane, Dumisani (10 April 2013). "Low-Landers in sea of heartbreak!". Times of Swaziland. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. ^ Magongo, Bhekisisa (9 September 2013). "Woeful Wanderers left at sea!". Times of Swaziland. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Swaziland 2017/18". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  4. ^ Ntiwane, Qondile (14 May 2018). "SEA BIRDS CROWNED MTN NFD CHAMPS". Eswatini Observer. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b "MANDLA PALMA AND MUZI TSABEDZE ARE THE BEST PLAYERS FOR THE 2017/18 FOOTBALL SEASON". Eswatini Football Association. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  6. ^ Dlamini, Lwazi (3 December 2018). "SEA BIRDS FOUR-GOOD FOR HAPLESS 'WESLIANS'". Times of Swaziland. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  7. ^ Nzima, Ashmond (19 April 2014). "GCINIZWI, SEA BIRDS' MUZI JOIN UNDER-20S". Times of Swaziland. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  8. ^ "MALAWI DEFEAT SWAZILAND IN COSAFA U-20 OPENER". Council of Southern Africa Football Associations. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Zambia held by Malawi to put semifinal place in doubt". Council of Southern Africa Football Associations. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Young Warriors march on". The Herald. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  11. ^ Gwebu, Sabelo (9 November 2020). "Felix in Sihlangu plane to Congo". Independent News Eswatini. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  12. ^ a b Muzi Tsabedze at National-Football-Teams.com