Times Of Swaziland: ‘MANYOVU’ DROPPED

‘MANYOVU’ DROPPED
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Machawe Fakudze on 01/06/2022 08:34:00


MBABANE – Eswatini international and former Royal Leopard player Bonginkosi
‘Manyovu’ Dlamini has been dropped from the national team, Sihlangu, squad
for the Togo and Burkina Faso games.
‘Manyovu’, who plies his trade with top Angolan side Sagrada Esperanca, was
intially named in the 26-member squad by Coach Dominic Kunene alongside another
international in Cape Town All Stars Justice ‘Figa’ Figuareido. The former
Denver Sundowns winger is currently in camp with his South African side in
preparation for the second match of the 2022 DStv Promotion and Relegation
playoffs against Swallows today. ‘Figa’s Manager Zukiswa Simelukane had
earlier disclosed to this publication that the player was not requested by the
Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and he was in their plans for the playoffs,
but he was named in the final 20-member squad for the two TOTALEnergies AFCON
Qualifiers. Sihlangu face Togo away this Friday before a home match against
Burkina Faso on Tuesday.
National team mentor Kunene said EFA arranged on how the player would join the
rest of the Sihlangu players en route to Lome in Togo. “The issue of
‘Manyovu’ is an administrative one,” he briefly said without giving
further explanation as he said he was rushing to board the bus. Other players
who could not make the trip to Lome are the duo of Royal Leopard goalkeeper
Phephisani Msibi and defender Sikhumbuzo Magagula; Mbabane Swallows midfielder
Leon Manyisa; and Manzini Sea Birds striker Muzi Tsabedze. National team skipper
Lindokuhle Mkhonta, on the other hand, promised the nation that they would
maintain the good performance of the past.
Pressure
The Young Buffaloes defender said this during the farewell ceremony for the
squad  in the presence of the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs
Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga at Lobamba Technical Centre yesterday. “We know
what we did previously during such games; we have put pressure on ourselves and
now we need to up our game and perform much better,” Mkhonta said. He told the
minister that as players there were more than ready to take the task ahead and
all the players in the squad were well. He then urged the nation to rally behind
them. He promised the country that they would come back home with positive
results. Meanwhile, Coach Dominic Kunene thanked Eswatini Football Association
(EFA) for the support they gave the team while in camp. He said preparations
went well and were hopeful that they would perform well in both the 2023
TOTALEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers against Togo and Burkina
Faso.
Officials
The 20-men squad, which includes 10 officials, headed by Hhohho Regional
Football Association (HRFA) Chairman Nigel Shongwe, left the country yesterday
for Johannesburg to connect a flight to Lome. Sihlangu bade farewell to minister
Bulunga, Principal Secretary (PS) Prince Mlayeto, EFA President Peter
‘Samora’ Simelane and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezula at
Lobamba Technical Centre yesterday afternoon. The game will be played next
Tuesday, while the second match will be played four days later in South Africa
in a venue yet to be confirmed by EFA.