NHLANGANO – Amid a cocktail of celebration and disappointment, Nsingizini Hotspurs Head Coach Mandla Qhogi has prioritised long-term progress over immediate results.
The South Africa-born gaffer is setting his sights on elevating the standard of Eswatini football.
Speaking after Saturday’s narrow 1-0 defeat to capital city giants Mbabane Swallows, Qhogi remained defiant. What was billed as a day of coronation at a packed King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium saw the ‘sleeping giants’ of Swallows awake to leave the hosts wounded, but the coach’s focus remained on the bigger picture.
Despite the loss, Insingizi Yezulu still hoisted their maiden E120 000 first-round champions’ cheque on home soil. The result leaves Nsingizini at the summit on 31 points; even if Manzini Sea Birds win their game in hand to draw level, the Shiselweni-based outfit remain top, courtesy of the head-to-head rule.
“Results aside, we are delighted with the players’ performance. The direction of this project is clear,” Qhogi remarked. “At Nsingizini, our objective isn’t just to play football, but to raise the bar for the sport in Eswatini. Improving the domestic standard is the only way to help the country climb the global rankings.”
The South African tactician attributed the weekend’s slip-up to a momentary loss of focus rather than a tactical failure.
“We lacked a bit of a clinical edge upfront, perhaps missing a few key bodies. However, I have no complaints defensively; their goal was simply a lapse in concentration,” he added.
Qhogi is confident his side can maintain their momentum into the business end of the season.
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