Muzi Tsabedze Explained

Muzi Tsabedze
Birth Date:23 September 1998
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Manzini Sea Birds
Clubs1:Manzini Sea Birds
Nationalyears1:2014–2017
Nationalteam1:Eswatini U20
Nationalyears2:2015
Nationalteam2:Eswatini U23
Nationalyears3:2020–
Nationalteam3:Eswatini
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalteam-Update: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.

Career statistics

International

Eswatini
YearAppsGoals
202010
202100
Total10

Honours

Club

Manzini Sea Birds

Individual

Notes and References

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