Times Of Swaziland: ‘RUDE WELCOME’ FOR ESWATINI U-17S

‘RUDE WELCOME’ FOR ESWATINI U-17S
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Lindokuhle Madlopha on 06/12/2024 09:56:00


MBABANE - The Eswatini Under-17 boys kicked off their campaign in the COSAFA
Under-17 Youth Championships with a disappointing performance.
Eswatini suffered a heavy 1-5 defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe, yesterday. This
transpired during the opening match of the Council of Southern Africa Football
Associations (COSAFA) tournament in South Africa. The tournament also serves as
a qualifier for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).  Despite the setback,
Eswatini managed to find the back of the net, with Menzi Dlamini scoring a
consolation goal during added time after being introduced in the second half.
Dominant
Zimbabwe commenced their Group B journey in emphatic fashion, showcasing a
dominant first-half display that left Eswatini struggling to keep pace.  El
Shaddai Sadomba was at the centre of the action, consistently troubling the
opposition defence.  The scoring was opened early in the match by Chakuchicha,
who executed a superb solo effort, before going on to assist two additional
goals. Sadomba stole the show, netting a remarkable hat-trick within 17 minutes.
 His first goal came in the 25th minute, followed by strikes in the 35th and
42nd minute.  In the second half, substitute Kupakwashe Mazorera nearly added to
the tally with his first touch, but his effort was disallowed due to a handball
in the build-up shortly after the hour mark.Valentine Macheka capped off
Zimbabwe’s impressive performance with a well-taken shot in the 85th minute,
extending the lead to five.  Eswatini’s Dlamini salvaged some pride with a
goal in added time, leaving the final score at 5-1.
Conference
In the post-match press conference, Eswatini Under-17 Head Coach Sindiso Gama
acknowledged the challenges his team faced, particularly in matching the speed
of their opponents.
“It was a tough match for my boys. Our game plan was to contain Zimbabwe and
not allow them to score first, knowing their strength. We lost our concentration
after the 20th  minute, which proved costly,” Gama stated. He noted that
nerves played a role, as many players were experiencing such a high-stakes
tournament for the first time. “Some of our players were a bit nervous, and
our execution faltered. Moving forward, we will regroup and work on our
mistakes,” he added. Looking ahead, Eswatini is set to face Namibia in their
next match, scheduled for tomorrow, December 7, 2024, at Soweto Stadium, South
Africa. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will take on Zambia in their next Group B clash, on
the same day.