Times Of Swaziland: NEW SIHLANGU COACH THIS WEEK

NEW SIHLANGU COACH THIS WEEK
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Mengameli Mabuza on 12/08/2024 07:37:00


MBABANE – Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Peter ‘Samora’
Simelane hinted that the unveiling of the new Sihlangu coach was imminent,
potentially taking place this week.
The Eswatini Senior Men’s National Team, Sihlangu Semnikati, currently finds
itself without a leader following the conclusion of a brief engagement with
interim Coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane. The former Royal Leopard coach, who
boasts three MTN Premier League titles to his name, was entrusted with leading
Sihlangu during the 2024 Council of Southern Africa Football Associations
(COSAFA) Cup in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
However, despite Ntibane’s expertise and experience, the team failed to
advance beyond the group stages and was eliminated from the
tournament.‘Samora’ offered a promising update yesterday afternoon,
revealing that the technical committee successfully completed the rigorous
assessment of European coaches who applied for the Sihlangu  coaching post.
Interviews
“The technical committee has wrapped up the interviews with coaches from
Europe, but this does not imply that the new coach will necessarily be a foreign
candidate. We will also be conducting interviews with local coaches, and the
final decision will be made based on a range of factors,” he said. The EFA
president further disclosed that the technical committee was expected to submit
their findings and recommendations on the coaching candidates by Wednesday, at
which point the association would review the report and make a decision
regarding the coaching appointment.
“As the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers approach with an imminent fixture
against Guinea-Bissau scheduled for next month, it is of paramount importance
for the team to begin their preparations with a newly-appointed coach at the
helm,” Simelane said. The national team, formerly led by Dominic Kunene, are
poised to embark on their journey to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations,
kicking off with two fixtures against Guinea Bissau in September, followed by a
game against Mali in Group I. Joining Guinea Bissau, Mali and Eswatini in Group
I is Mozambique, making the competition for the coveted top spot in the group
even more intense.