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DOMINIC EXPLAINS SIHLANGU OMISSIONS

17/02/2023 07:32:00 Mengameli Mabuza

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MBABANE - Eswatini national team Sihlangu Coach Dominic Kunene has cleared the air regarding the surprise omission of stars who include Mxolisi Mkhonto, Felix Badernhorst and Khanyakwezwe Shabalala.

Mbabane Swallows top goalscorer in the MTN Premier League Badernhorst and Mbabane Highlanders shot-stopper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala were among the notable absentees from the latest 25-man Sihlangu squad, which was Kunene’s first in the year. The squad announced early in the week has begun preparations for the back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Cape Verde next month. Kunene stressed that this was not the final squad and the national team was for every liSwati.

“The squad is going to training and the national team has been announced so that we can identify talent that we have not seen closer. I watch all the Premier League games and players cannot all be included in the national team at once.

International

“All players have different qualities and we have a wide pool of good players who we have and some of them we already know how they play on the international stage. We wanted to give other players new opportunities so that they can prove themselves,” he said. Kunene mentioned that players like Badernhorst, Mkhonto, Khanyakwezwe and the others whom they public wanted to see representing the national team were still part of his set up.

“This is not the final squad that we will use for the qualifiers but this is the pool that we will mostly have in the final squad and more young players will be gradually introduced so that we can have a future team. “A player like Felix, for example, is part of my plans going forward as we already know the quality that he brings and we want to see other players in his position so that we can have more options when selecting the final squad.

“We don’t want to destroy the players by introducing them all at once. We are noticing many players who are raising a hand to be picked like Sibongakonkhe Silenge from Green Mamba, who is a very good player with leadership qualities. Any of the players that the public feel like are missing can be recalled at any time,” the coach said.

The national team coach encouraged all the players to work hard. “I would love to urge the boys to continue working hard so that they can give us as the technical team a headache when selecting the final squad. We will at the end of the day select a squad of more deserving players who will be entrusted to bring a smile to the national team.

“The boys selected in the national team should always be supported because it kills the confidence of players who have been selected to see the bad things that are said about them on social media,” he said. Kunene highlighted that Eswatini international players like Justice Figuareido who plays for South Africa’s football second-tier side All Stars as well right-back Lindo Mkhonta, who has just joined Zambia giants Zesco United were part of his squad, but they would only be available during the FIFA International break.

Temporarily

FIFA International breaks are a designated period that allows players to leave their clubs temporarily to represent their national teams in competitions such as FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, UEFA European Championships, TotalEnergies AFCON 2023 Qualifier and the Africa Cup of Nations, among others.

There is also a first call-up for Nsingizini players Sibusiso Dlamini and Thubelihle Mavuso and Moneni Pirates’ Bhekisisa Dlamini.Madlenya’s duo of Gift Gamedze and Lucky Gamedze also got call-ups alongside Mkhuleko Magagula of Sea Birds. Kunene’s troops are expected back in camp at least early next month ahead of the resumption of the Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2024 Qualifiers. Sihlangu will play back-to-back TotalEnergies AFCON 2023 Qualifier fixtures against Cape Verde to be played during the upcoming FIFA International window that will start from March 20-28. It will be round three and four matches. Sihlangu have a point to show for their campaign so far, after a draw with Togo and a defeat against Burkina Faso.