BY MACHAWE FAKUDZE
(At Parliament)
LOBAMBA – “It is a shame!”
Mbabane East Member of Parliament (MP) Welcome ‘Wex’ Dlamini has attacked the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) over appointing Dominic Kunene as interim Sihlangu Head Coach.
He raised the matter in Parliament during yesterday’s Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs portfolio committee sitting, questioning why the EFA turned back to Kunene following his previous stint.
Dlamini’s reaction comes after the EFA confirmed a week ago that the Young Buffaloes gaffer would lead Sihlangu on an interim basis for the November International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Week international friendly against Malta set for November 12.
Kunene will be assisted by Ezulwini United Coach Caleb ‘No nonsense’ Ngwenya, with Ubombo Sugar’s Siza Dlamini as Fitness Coach and Thokozani Mamba as Goalkeeper Coach.
He firstly stated that the country’s junior squads are full of talented players whose ultimate dream is playing in the local elite league to get spotted by forces teams Royal Leopard, Green Mamba and Young Buffaloes.
“Once they have failed to be recruited by these teams, they then resort to drinking alcohol,” Dlamini said.
The Mbabane East legislator minced no words as he blasted the Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane-led organisation over failing to appoint a coach who will yield desired results for the nation.
“We cannot even appoint a Sihlangu coach as a country. It is a shame to retain a coach who was fired by the same association and now they are hiring him again. What is he going to change now?” Dlamini wondered.
Meanwhile, Nkomiyahlaba MP Mduduzi Dlamini noted that the national team’s performance is dropping and wondered whether local football leaders have the interest of the sport at heart or are there for personal gain.
“Where is the Nkwe in sports?” he asked rhetorically.
He observed that the country is blessed with good coaches who are delivering results for their teams, but are overlooked by the EFA for the Sihlangu coaching post.
Hosea MP Sifiso Mabuza, on a lighter note, congratulated the national Under-23 men’s team for advancing to the second stage of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 Qualifiers. He also urged the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs to assist the EFA in recruiting the Sihlangu coach.
Minister for Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi, who was representing his counterpart Bongani Nzima, stated clearly that Kunene will only be at the helm of Sihlangu for this month, assuring the MPs that the new coach will be appointed by the end of November.
EFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu, who was also present, stated that the squad to represent Sihlangu will be announced today.
According to the EFA, the interim arrangement was necessary to allow preparations for the Malta fixture to proceed while the association finalises compensation details for the substantive head coach, who has already been identified.
Sihlangu are scheduled to jet out of the country for a historic clash on Thursday, November 12, 2026, when they face the European side at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium, with kick-off set for 7:30pm Eswatini time.
This landmark fixture marks the first time in history that Eswatini will play an international friendly against a European nation. The cross-continental encounter was officially confirmed by the Malta Football Association (MFA) on its social media channels and verified by the Times of Malta Sports Desk.
In a press release, the EFA also confirmed that engagements to secure the match had been successfully concluded with the MFA, with only administrative processes surrounding travel and hosting logistics remaining.
