SIHLANGU FINAL SQUAD: ALI, BONGISWA, 2 OTHERS DROPPED

MBABANE – Young Buffaloes enterprising midfielder Ali Matse headlines the list of players who will not travel with Sihlangu to Botswana.

Others are Bongiswa ‘Pumba’ Dlamini from Nsingizini Hotspurs, Royal Leopard goalkeeper Mlamuli Makhanya and grafter Simanga Masangane. Lubombo Regional Football Association (LRFA) Chairman Nichodemus ‘Ace’ Mashwama will lead the 21-member squad that will be travelling to Botswana, today.  Sihlangu will clash with Zimbabwe in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying match in Francistown, on Sunday.  They are set to return to the country, on Monday.

Sihlangu Head Coach Logarusic, who took Zimbabwe to the 2021 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, said they are ready for the game and are looking forward to getting positive results. “We are ready for the competition including the technical team. Yes, Zimbabwe is quite a strong team but we do not have any pressure. I think the game will be a 50/50 chance. The two countries are somehow equal. We are not only going to participate, but compete in every way possible and we do have some injuries the likes of Muzi Tsabedze from Sea Birds and Bongi ‘Karas’ Magagula from Mbabane Swallows,” Logarusic said.

Injured

Magagula was injured in a match played last weekend between Green Mamba and his side team at Mavuso Sports Centre. He was called back to join the national team on camp after the coach was impressed with his performance when his side team defeated Green Mamba 1-0. National team Captain Sifiso Matse said in as much as Zimbabwe seem to be tough opponents, they are dedicated to coming back home with a win. “We have trained and did everything to fully prepare fort this game. We do have an advantage as this is a tournament that is played by local players. We have a group of skilled and talented players and with the unity that we have, we hope we are going to get positive results,” Matse said.

He went on to plead for the nation to rally behind the side ahead of the game against Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Eswatini Football Association (EFA) President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane extended his best wishes to the national team and asked them to represent the country well. “We wish the whole team all the best as they are going to represent the country. Ever since I joined EFA, my main mandate has been to ensure that atleast by 2030, the national team should qualify playing in the AFCON finals,” Simelane said. “This is still the beginning of the road. Both teams will be playing in an unfamiliar set-up. This means the ground will be neutral. We also want to thank the coach for making the preparations successful. Go there and make the nation proud.”

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