Times Of Swaziland: ‘BIRDS’ CALM AHEAD  OF SUNDAY’S ‘STORM’

‘BIRDS’ CALM AHEAD  OF SUNDAY’S ‘STORM’
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BY DUMISANI NTIWANE on 25/10/2013 04:38:00


Red and white  glamour giants were taking it easy ahead of what is expected to
be a stormy afternoon on Sunday at Somhlolo National Stadium.
The Mbabane giants will meet rivals Manzini Wanderers in an eagerly anticipated
MTN League clash, which is slated for Somhlolo National Stadium.
Fresh from a crippling 1-1 draw against police ensemble, Royal Leopard on
Wednesday night, training yesterday was understandably a light affair.
Swallows sweated it out under the watchful eyes of the team’s technical bench
headed by Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe and his assistant Siyabonga Bhembe.
The training session, which was also attended by some of the team’s high
ranking officials including the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sibusiso
Manana, lasted for about 2 hours before the team called it a day.
The training:
As usual, the players were first ordered to undergo a thorough warm up session,
which was conducted by the assistant coach, Bhembe. They were made to jog around
the pitch at a leisurely pace for about 10 minutes and Bhembe would gradually
increase the pace until the players were almost at a full running pace.
After about 20 minutes, the players were then instructed to do short sprints and
for about five minutes they gave each other no breathing space, as they tried to
outrun the other.
Speedy winger, Darren ‘Dazza’ Christie and overlapping right back Manqoba
Zwane seemed to enjoy showing the rest of the players a clean pair of heels.
It was a fierce contest, as the likes of Zimbabwean sweeper, Talent Maphosa and
utility player Elias Tsabalaka did not want to be left behind.
The players were then divided into two groups. It was evident that the team’s
technical bench wanted the training to differ with the players, who were doing
duty against the police ensemble being given special treatment.
The other group, which consisted of players who were either left on the stands
or were on the bench were then ordered to train on their own under the watchful
care of the assistant coach, Bhembe.
This group included the likes of quicksilver winger Christie, left back Sanele
Mkhweli, workaholic midfielder Phinda Ginindza and assistant goalkeeper Mbongeni
Motsa to mention only a few. This group did a lot of running. It was taxing and
hectic.
The mood:
Despite the somewhat crippling draw against the police ensemble, the mood in the
‘Birds’ camp was still high. The players never complained, not even when
Bhembe seemed to stretch them to the limit only a few days before the game
against Wanderers. Every player seemed determined to make an impression. The
jokes were still flying around with sweat all over the players’ faces. The
Swallows players were evidently enjoying themselves.
The casualty ward:
No serious injuries were reported by the Mbabane giants. Previously injured left
back Sanele Mkhweli has fully recovered from his ankle injury. He was running
freely and interviewed afterwards, the fast improving player disclosed that he
was now fit and was actually looking forward to the game against his former
teammates.
Missing in action:
Only talismanic forward Mfanafuthi ‘Taribo’ Bhembe failed to show up at
training, His whereabouts remained unknown at the time of going to press. The
rest of the players were present. Former skipper, Lwazi ‘Zidanae’ Maziya is
back in South Africa pursuing his academic commitments.
coach’s corner:
Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe (Head coach)
“As I said after our game against Leopard, the draw will serve as a wake up
call to my players that we are not yet invincible. Teams can still punish us.
Preparations have however, gone on well and I am looking forward to a much
improved performance against Wanderers on Sunday”.
CEO’s corner:
(Sibusiso Manana)
“I want to make a special appeal to our supporters to come in numbers for this
one. We have a bone to chew with Wanderers on Sunday. While we respect them as a
team, we are certainly not afraid of them and we are looking forward to a good
game. We will do everything in our power to put smiles on their faces after the
disappointment of failing to win against Leopard in our midweek game.
“We are going out there for a win on Sunday no matter the circumstances. Our
aim is to win the league so by all means we have to win our games irrespective
of the opposition”.