‘RUDE WELCOME’ FOR ESWATINI U-17S

MBABANE - The Eswatini Under-17 boys kicked off their campaign in the COSAFA Under-17 Youth Championships with a disappointing performance.

Eswatini suffered a heavy 1-5 defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe, yesterday. This transpired during the opening match of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) tournament in South Africa. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).  Despite the setback, Eswatini managed to find the back of the net, with Menzi Dlamini scoring a consolation goal during added time after being introduced in the second half.

Dominant

Zimbabwe commenced their Group B journey in emphatic fashion, showcasing a dominant first-half display that left Eswatini struggling to keep pace.  El Shaddai Sadomba was at the centre of the action, consistently troubling the opposition defence.  The scoring was opened early in the match by Chakuchicha, who executed a superb solo effort, before going on to assist two additional goals. Sadomba stole the show, netting a remarkable hat-trick within 17 minutes.  His first goal came in the 25th minute, followed by strikes in the 35th and 42nd minute.  In the second half, substitute Kupakwashe Mazorera nearly added to the tally with his first touch, but his effort was disallowed due to a handball in the build-up shortly after the hour mark.Valentine Macheka capped off Zimbabwe’s impressive performance with a well-taken shot in the 85th minute, extending the lead to five.  Eswatini’s Dlamini salvaged some pride with a goal in added time, leaving the final score at 5-1.

Conference

In the post-match press conference, Eswatini Under-17 Head Coach Sindiso Gama acknowledged the challenges his team faced, particularly in matching the speed of their opponents.
“It was a tough match for my boys. Our game plan was to contain Zimbabwe and not allow them to score first, knowing their strength. We lost our concentration after the 20th  minute, which proved costly,” Gama stated. He noted that nerves played a role, as many players were experiencing such a high-stakes tournament for the first time. “Some of our players were a bit nervous, and our execution faltered. Moving forward, we will regroup and work on our mistakes,” he added. Looking ahead, Eswatini is set to face Namibia in their next match, scheduled for tomorrow, December 7, 2024, at Soweto Stadium, South Africa. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will take on Zambia in their next Group B clash, on the same day.

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