SWALLOWS PLAYERS OUT OF COSAFA CUP

MBABANE – The country will be forced to take a ‘weakened’ side to the Southern Africa region’s flagship soccer tournament styled COSAFA Senior Challenge in May.

On-form and record-breaking Mbabane Swallows players will play no part in the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA)  Championships to be staged in South Africa between May 27 and June 9 this year.  During the period, the capital city giants will be playing their opening matches in the group stages of the CAF Champions League following their historic qualification at the expense of Zambia’s Zanaco last Saturday.

This means the Sihlangu squad representing the country in the championships will be minus over five regular players who include skipper Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze and Felix Badenhorst, who was the outstanding player in the 2016 instalment staged in Namibia.

The side bagged a bronze medal while under the tutelage of then coach Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga during that year.
Other Swallows players that were in the bronze medal-winning squad were shot-stopper Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza,  trio of defenders Sifiso Mabila, Sanele Mkhweli and Mandla Palma, as well as midfielders Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu, Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko and Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze. Also in the team was forward Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, who is currently out injured.

National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) CEO Frederick Mngomezulu confirmed the latest developments while speaking on national radio yesterday, saying the players were excused to focus on their CAF campaign.
In the past year, the Swallows players also did not play in Rustenburg, South Africa, where the tournament was staged. The country had been seeded following a spirited display the previous year. Swaziland performed badly last year. They lost 1-2 to Zimbabwe in the quarter-finals and were defeated 1-0 by Namibia in the Plate Section, which is meant for the last eight losers.

Meanwhile, the Swallows players are also not part of the squad currently in camp for the FIFA week. Also affected are Royal Leopard. The two sides will meet in what promises to be a pulsating Ingwenyama Cup final at Somhlolo National Stadium on Sunday.

NFAS Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe said the unavailability of the players from the two teams would increase depth for the national side.
At least 23 players have been selected to go into fulltime camp between yesterday and next Wednesday. Most of the selected players are from Young Buffaloes.

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