An injured key Mbabane Highlanders AM star has rejected surgery.
Amid a serious knee injury sustained last season, the capital city giants’ mercurial defender Vusi Vilakati will be out of action for some time.
However, it has since been revealed he opted against a recommended surgery that would see him out of action for a long time. 
Consequent to his injury, the team has decided to retire him from the new season squad.
Highlanders General Manager (GM) Richard Makhoba informed supporters on Saturday during their Homecoming party at the Prince of Wales Stadium, in Mbabane, that Vilakati, a key player, was not in the playing squad.
“You will recall that Vusi sustained an injury last season, and an operation was recommended but he said no to it. He had belief he can recover with time.
“However, he still feels pain on the knee, and we had to retire him. It’s temporary as a physio in South Africa said he didn’t need surgery but time,” said Makhoba.
The GM said given his circumstances, the club decided to give him the time to recover.
“He joins the technical bench and we’ll have him do coaching courses and also find opportunities to upskill him for survival,” said Makhoba.
Makhoba explained that once he was recovered, he will rejoin the squad, but he was currently off the playing squad. The defender is not the only one out, but midfielder Siwakhile Shongwe as well.
“Siwakhile has also been released to go and recover from his injuries.
You all know he was attacked after we our win against Mbabane Swallows. We were with him in our preseason camp but after a few games, it became clear he needed to recover from a hand injury,” explained Makhoba.
He said Shongwe had to go since he had this nagging injury from the attack that happened in his hometown in Pigg’s Peak. This was way after Highlanders had edged Swallows in the MTN Premier League.
Efforts to establish the impact of the operation proved futile. Meanwhile, nine new signings were unveiled by the club.
