Skhwama’s prospects look bleak at Baroka FC
When Baroka signed the winger, they hoped he would torment opposition defenders and that his popularity and status could be used as a marketing tool to draw crowds to the stadium.
POLOKWANE – Great things were expected from Baroka FC’s newly signed player, Tshepo Matete, but the man, affectionately known as Skhwama Sama Tariyana, has not been given sufficient game-time under the tutelage of coach Kgoloko Thobejane.
When Baroka signed the winger, they hoped he would torment opposition defenders and that his popularity and status could be used as a marketing tool to draw crowds to the stadium.
However, it seems all the ecstasy has turned to doom and gloom for Skwama as the club intends to offload some of the players who are now deemed ‘surplus material’.
Baroka want to get rid of players who have not made much of a contribution to the club since being signed at the beginning of the season and they have already identified them for loan moves or outright transfers when the window opens in January. And with the dreaded guillotine now looming large in the Bakgaga camp to get rid of dead wood, Skhwana may not survive the chopping block.
With regards to Skhwana, issues about his general conduct have contributed to his lack of game-time at the club. His only appearance to date has been a 20-minute run off the bench two months ago against Highlands Park. He has since been reduced to a Multichoice Diski Challenge player, having only come on once in their 2-1 league defeat in this game in September.
The 25-year-old has already been warned about the need to be professional in his conduct as he is now playing for a Premier Soccer League (PSL) club.
After signing his first professional contract with the Ga-Mphahlele-based outfit at the start of the season, Skhwana’s exploits have reportedly piqued the interest of a number of PSL sides, including Orlando Pirates.
Baroka CEO, Morgan Mammila, recently raised a few eyebrows in the local football fraternity when he said the winger’s worth is valued at a massive R15 million for any teams interested in his services.
Skhwana has never played in a professional setup, let alone lower-league football, but has shown off his skills and proven to be extremely popular on YouTube.
However, if he has had little success with Baroka, what chance does he stand playing amid the Soweto Giants if he continues to be unruly?
