Mayibongwe Mabuza

Mayibongwe Mabuza (born 20 August 2003) is a Liswati footballer who plays for Premier League of Eswatini club Manzini Sea Birds and the Eswatini national team.

Club career Mabuza demonstrated promise from an early age and was named the Player of the Season for the U-13 Premier League, which featured young players already in the academies of Premier League of Eswatini clubs. As a youth, he played for developmental sides SuperSport and Hurricane before signing his first senior contract with Vovovo in 2019.

In December 2021 it as announced that Mabuza had joined Nsingizini Hotspurs on a 1-year deal from Vovovo with a club option for an additional season. Mabuza was also spotted by an Italian scout from Empoli which lead to additional trial invitations from clubs in Serie B during his time in Italy.

In June 2024, Mabuza was heavily linked with a move to fellow Premier League side Manzini Sea Birds with the move reportedly set to happen at the conclusion of his contract with Hotspurs. He continued his impressive league form with his new club, becoming an early contender for the league's top scorer award and earning honours including being named to the league's Team of the Week in February 2025.

International career Mabuza represented Eswatini at the youth level with both the national under-20 and under-23 sides. Mabuza made his senior international debut on 23 March 2025 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Mauritius. He scored his first senior goal in the same match to give Eswatini the lead before Mauritius scored a late equalizer to salvage the draw.

International goals Last updated 19 May 2025. No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 23 March 2025 Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela, South Africa 3–2 3–3 2026 FIFA World Cup qualificationLast updated 19 May 2025

International career statistics

Personal Mabuza was born Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Manzini but grew up in Mbabane. He became interested in football at a young age because of his mother Gcebile Dlamini who played herself for Kappa Ladies FC in the Eswatini Women's League. He got his nickname "Suarez" from the prolific Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez whom Mabuzo watched play at the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by neighboring South Africa.