Times Of Swaziland: SWALLOWS STARS DOMINATE COSAFA SQUAD

SWALLOWS STARS DOMINATE COSAFA SQUAD
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Machawe Fakudze on 14/06/2024 08:17:00


MBABANE – Out with the old, in with the new!
This, after the national team Sihlangu interim Coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane
announced a 24-member squad for the 2024 Council of Southern African Football
Association (COSAFA) Cup. The former Royal Leopard award-winning coach announced
the squad in a media briefing, which was held at Sigwaca House, yesterday. The
squad is dominated by players from 2023/24 MTN Premier League champions Mbabane
Swallows.
According to the EFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu, the
squad is expected to go to full-time camp today, in preparation for the
tournament penned for June 26, 2024 in the Eastern Cape. “We have been given
the exact dates for COSAFA, which will start on June 26 to July 7 in Gqeberha
not in Durban as it has been the norm,” Mngomezulu said.
The EFA Ceo said the reason they announced the squad was due to the fact that
they wanted to start preparations soon, as they wanted the team to compete. The
draw for this year’s edition will be conducted today in a venue yet to be
confirmed by COSAFA. Ntibane, as per the directive from the EFA President Peter
‘Samora’ Simelane, of having a youthful squad, announced youngsters.
Swallows contributed seven players, including Ayanda Gadlela, who was dropped in
the team that played the back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against Angola and
Mauritius.
The squad also saw the return of Leon ‘Schuster’ Manyisa, Sizolwethu
‘Nunu’ Shabalala and defender Newman Philiso. The coach gave the likes of
Nsingizini Hotspurs striker Sambulo ‘Masoso’ Simelane, Madlenya defender
Gift Gamedze, Moneni Pirates striker Wandile Simelane and Ezulwini United
goal-custodian Siyabonga Magagula their first national team call-ups. Ntibane
said for the purpose of continuation in the squad, he kept the likes of Junior
Magagula, Owa ‘Logwaja’ Matsebula, Thubelihle Mavuso and Mcolisi Manana.
“The mandate of EFA is development and to expose them to international
football that is why we selected these players as well as keeping those we were
with in Angola,” Ntibane said.
He further highlighted that they were going to war in this tournament as they
wanted to make the nation happy by getting positive results. The squad will
leave on June 22 for the games. “We are going to fight for the nation,” he
said.