U-20 COACH APPRECIATES TINKHUNDLA TALENT SEARCH

LOBAMBA - Eswatini Under-20 national team Head Coach Mduduzi ‘Sikhalo’ Nxumalo says the Tinkhundla talent search programme has helped them identify players.

Nxumalo disclosed this yesterday during the U-20 training session at the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Technical Centre at Lobamba.  The country’s U-20 squad will be competing in the upcoming TotalEnergies under-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, COSAFA qualifiers to be held in Maputo from September 26, 2024 to October 5, 2024. “All preparations are going well. We will be contending against a tough group, but I believe we will get positive results considering the preparations,” Nxumalo said.

He went on to share that they have already been joined by international players who will also be part of the squad that will represent the country in Mozambique. “We have four international players who have joined the rest of the players on camp and they are all responding well. We have noticed that they could also play an important role in the tournament as they are more skilled, quick and have shown better understanding of the game,” he added.

The gaffer further highlighted that they had a balanced team which was also as a results if the Tinkhundla Talent search programme. “The Tinkhundla Talent Search has helped us a lot in terms of talent identification. We now have a goalkeeper from Bhunya and some strikers who we got through the programme,” he said. Meanwhile, Eswatini international right winger Phiwayinkhosi Dube, who is currently serving in the Under-19 Tuks football club in Pretoria under Gauteng development league said he was happy about the national team call up and was hoping to represent the country well. “I am grateful for the recognition. I just want to thank all the coaches for helping me settle well with the rest of the players as this is my first call up. I am excited to take on the challenge and I believe we will go far in the competition,” Dube said. He also mentioned that the call up would give him an opportunity to be recognised by other teams internationally.

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