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TWO LOCAL YOUNGSTERS FOR WORLD CUP GRAND OPENING

07/06/2018 03:08:00 BY SANELE JELE

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MBABANE – Two youngsters have been presented with a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to watch the grand opening of the FIFA World Cup in Moscow.

These are Vunokuhle Dube and Vuyolwethu Dlamini, who were yesterday unveiled at Sigwaca House as the two candidates to represent the Kingdom of Eswatini in the global football showpiece in Moscow, Russia. Under the slogan ‘Football for Friendship’, the world governing soccer body has chosen the two youngsters from its 211 affiliates to experience the World Cup.

Dube and Dlamini will be joined by FA Youth Coach Friday Myeni and Swaziland Referees’ Association Secretary Simanga Nhleko.They will leave the country today via King Mswati III International Airport to OR Tambo International Airport, then connect a flight to Moscow, Russia via Zurich.

This was disclosed by FA CEO Frederick Mngometulu yesterday, during a press conference at Sigwaca House.
“As part of FIFA affiliates, we have not been left out of the FIFA Football For Friendship programme, where the football mother body selects four candidates from each country to witness the grand opening of the FIFA World Cup grand opening game.

We have selected Vuyolwethu Dlamini, Vunokuhle Dube, Friday Myeni and Smanga Nhleko to represent the country,” Mngometulu disclosed.
When asked the selection criteria, the CEO said the two youngsters were chosen after they shone during the Build-It under-13 tournament played two months ago.

“They were chosen as the best players in that tournament and when the opportunity presented itself, it was easy to get our best candidates.FIFA wanted two under 12 youngsters, one who is best player and the other who will be coached as a future journalist. We also chose Friday Myeni because he is a youth coach and Simanga Nhleko is a member of the FA through the Referee Association where he is a secretary,” he added.