MBABANE - With the frustration of watching from the sidelines and not knowing what the future holds at South Africa’s Jomo Cosmos, Sihlangu striker, Mfan’futhi ‘Taribo’ Bhembe has moved quickly to register with Mbabane Swallows for the new season, the Times Sports Desk gathered yesterday.

Bhembe was registered with the Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) last Friday during what initially had been declared the registration deadline before the self-same organisation announced an extension to Wednesday yesterday.

Interviewed yesterday, Bhembe confirmed that he signed his D-Form last week to give himself something to fall back on in the event the new adventure to ply his trade with ‘Ezenkosi’ in the money-spinning South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) develops some hiccups.

“I thought about this long and hard, opted to sign the D-form in case anything happens here and I can go back and play for Swallows,” he said. Asked if Jomo Cosmos boss, Jomo Sono would allow him to re-join Swallows whilst they await their papers with the South African Home Affairs, Bhembe said ‘Mjomane’ had flatly refused.

“He did tell us he had heard about the rumour of the teams wanting us back to play whilst awaiting the papers but quickly stated that he would never allow that. He is paying us our full salaries meantime. It’s an issue we have no control over,” he said.

When asked whether he had a contract with Swallows, Bhembe said he doesn’t hence he can sign as a free agent with Cosmos – anytime.

“That’s why it would be simple even to register as I am a free agent and have no contract with Swallows,” Bhembe said. Asked how they have been able to cope with training every-day yet knowing they wouldn’t play, Bhembe said it had been traumatic.

“The sad thing is that we can see that the team is not performing well yet we know how much we can contribute and knowing there is nothing we can do about it. It’s been difficult period but Jomo has advised us to be patient,” he noted.

Bhembe said indications were that before the end of next month, they would have got their papers and be eligible to play.

Bhembe and Manzini Wanderers midfielder, Felix Badenhorst are the only ones amongst the trio who have registered with their teams for the new season and only right full back, Mpendulo ‘Baiano’ Kunene has not.