SIHLANGU COACH TO BE UNVEILED IN FORTNIGHT

MBABANE – The national team, Sihlangu, is set to welcome a new helmsman in just a fortnight.

This revelation comes from the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu, who remarked yesterday, “We have witnessed an overwhelming turnout of coaches from across the globe, signalling an unprecedented level of interest.
“We are already deeply engaged with individuals on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that our endeavours remain within budgetary constraints,” Mngomezulu said.“By the end of July, within the next two weeks, we will have a national team coach in place, gearing up for the AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) qualifiers commencing in August. Our primary focus is for the coach to prepare the team, ensuring progress, while adhering to predefined boundaries.”

Visionary

Responding to the inquiry about the head coach’s mandate, he stated, “We maintain an open-minded approach to engaging with a diverse range of individuals, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the AFCON or FIFA World Cup. As we move forward, we aspire for the head coach of the day to be a visionary strategist, propelling technical development,” he affirmed. When probed about whether the new head coach will have the liberty to select his technical bench or if the EFA will recommend personnel for him to work with, Mngomezulu declared, “While the coach has the freedom to engage with their preferred individuals, it is imperative that we maintain a cohesive approach to our objectives.”

Regarding the inheritance of the squad that participated in the COSAFA Cup under interim coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane, it was revealed that 70 per cent of the squad will be retained. “We highlighted that sending a youth squad to the COSAFA Cup was a means of fostering continuity and nurturing future stars for the national team. The other objective in the COSAFA cup was for the coach and players to make a strong impression and demonstrate their capabilities; naturally, we sought positive results,” he articulated.

The new coach’s inaugural assignment is slated for September 2024. The qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations are scheduled to kick off in September 2024 and conclude in November 2024. These matches are organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to determine the first 24 nations that will compete in the 35th edition of the biennial African football tournament, set to take place in Morocco in 2025. The incoming coach will succeed interim coach Ntibane, who led the team in the COSAFA Cup.

Ntibane took over from Dominic Kunene, who had been with the national team for the past four years. Among the list of coaches who have confirmed their applications are former Orlando Pirates Coach Kostadin Papic, Honour Janza, former West Ham and English coach Hassan Oktay, and Spanish and Real Madrid Coach Carlos Haro, among others.Meanwhile Sihlangu is grouped along Mali, Mozambique , Guinea Bissau in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

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