COACH’S REACTION TO DRAMATIC INCIDENT: ‘SIKHALI’ SPECIAL, KWAKHE LESS COMMITTED’

MANZINI – The decision to oust national team Sihlangu Assistant Skipper Kwakhe ‘Stopper’ Mthethwa from camp has been explained.

Zdravko Logarusic charges are currently in full-time camp, preparing for the back-to-back African Nations Championship (CHAN) Qualifiers against Zimbabwe.
The first leg of the games will be played in Francistown, Botswana, on Saturday. The return match, which will be hosted by Eswatini, will be played at Mbombela Stadium in South Africa, three days later.

Speaking during the national team Media Day at Mavuso Sports Centre, yesterday, Logarusic said he had no choice, but to send the assistant captain packing from the squad camp.
The Croatian gaffer spilled the beans on the Mbabane Swallows captain being chased from the camp, saying that Thwala failed to report on time at the camp at Lobamba Technical Centre. “Kwakhe is a super player, who is a captain of the reigning champions and an assistant captain for Sihlangu; he should be leading by example,” Logarusic said.

He said the former Young Buffaloes player showed signs of not being committed and lacked discipline. “He should be a role model and be exemplary to the other players as an important player in the squad,” he said. He said he was setting an example by ousting the versatile Umkhonto KaShaka player from camp. He further revealed that since the tournament is played by locally-based players, Royal Leopard midfield maestro Sifiso ‘Ayoba’ Matse will captain the squad. The coach, on the other hand, rates MTN Premier League leading goalscorer Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa high.

The coach revealed that the former Swallows and Highlanders talisman was a special player, who when called, should be in the starting eleven.  “When he is called up, he should start the match as he is a committed player,” Logarusic said. He said the deadly striker wanted to join the squad even though he was still injured and he eventually joined them on Tuesday.  “He will be our top striker in the coming games,” he added. It is worth mentioning that ‘Sikhali’ was part of the players as well as Mbabane Highlanders attacking midfielder Philani ‘Mkasabuli’ Mkhonto. Coming to the preparations, Logarusic said everything was going according to plan and the players were responding well to his tactics. This was evident as the players painted a picture of joy and passion.

He further said Zimbabwe was a closed book as they have a new coach, who Logarusic said the coach was reportedly going to use Under-23s players in the game. “I am positive that we will get good results as everyone wants a win when playing,” he said after he was asked on how the squad will perform against Zimbabwe. It is worth mentioning that Logarusic once coached Zimbabwe and qualified them into the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

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