Times Of Swaziland: SIHLANGU FINAL SQUAD: ALI, BONGISWA, 2 OTHERS DROPPED

SIHLANGU FINAL SQUAD: ALI, BONGISWA, 2 OTHERS DROPPED
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Lindokuhle Madlopha on 25/10/2024 09:05:00


MBABANE – Young Buffaloes enterprising midfielder Ali Matse headlines the list
of players who will not travel with Sihlangu to Botswana.
Others are Bongiswa ‘Pumba’ Dlamini from Nsingizini Hotspurs, Royal Leopard
goalkeeper Mlamuli Makhanya and grafter Simanga Masangane. Lubombo Regional
Football Association (LRFA) Chairman Nichodemus ‘Ace’ Mashwama will lead the
21-member squad that will be travelling to Botswana, today.  Sihlangu will clash
with Zimbabwe in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying match in
Francistown, on Sunday.  They are set to return to the country, on Monday.
Sihlangu Head Coach Logarusic, who took Zimbabwe to the 2021 TotalEnergies
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, said they are ready for the game and are
looking forward to getting positive results. “We are ready for the competition
including the technical team. Yes, Zimbabwe is quite a strong team but we do not
have any pressure. I think the game will be a 50/50 chance. The two countries
are somehow equal. We are not only going to participate, but compete in every
way possible and we do have some injuries the likes of Muzi Tsabedze from Sea
Birds and Bongi ‘Karas’ Magagula from Mbabane Swallows,” Logarusic said.
Injured
Magagula was injured in a match played last weekend between Green Mamba and his
side team at Mavuso Sports Centre. He was called back to join the national team
on camp after the coach was impressed with his performance when his side team
defeated Green Mamba 1-0. National team Captain Sifiso Matse said in as much as
Zimbabwe seem to be tough opponents, they are dedicated to coming back home with
a win. “We have trained and did everything to fully prepare fort this game. We
do have an advantage as this is a tournament that is played by local players. We
have a group of skilled and talented players and with the unity that we have, we
hope we are going to get positive results,” Matse said.
He went on to plead for the nation to rally behind the side ahead of the game
against Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Peter
‘Samora’ Simelane extended his best wishes to the national team and asked
them to represent the country well. “We wish the whole team all the best as
they are going to represent the country. Ever since I joined EFA, my main
mandate has been to ensure that atleast by 2030, the national team should
qualify playing in the AFCON finals,” Simelane said. “This is still the
beginning of the road. Both teams will be playing in an unfamiliar set-up. This
means the ground will be neutral. We also want to thank the coach for making the
preparations successful. Go there and make the nation proud.”