(At King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium)
NHLANGANO – Nsingizini Hotspurs Head Coach Mandla Qhogi has questioned Mbabane Highlanders AM’s title credentials, arguing they cannot afford to lose to direct rivals.
Qhogi delivered the stinging assessment after his side edged Highlanders AM 1-0 in a fiercely-contested MTN Premier League encounter at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium on Saturday, with Quality Dlamini’s first-half strike settling the match.
Highlanders AM had suffered a 0-2 defeat to Royal Leopard before Saturday’s setback, leaving them with consecutive losses against two teams Qhogi believes will contest for the league crown.
“Highlanders do not have the capacity to win the league,” Qhogi declared, arguing that a title-chasing team must be able to beat its direct competitors.
He said Highlanders’ defeats against Royal Leopard and Nsingizini raised questions about their ability to compete for the championship, as he identified the two sides as among the teams expected to fight for the title.
Qhogi also tipped Green Mamba, Royal Leopard and Young Buffaloes to compete strongly this season, saying their improved performances had made them serious contenders.
The Nsingizini mentor, however, insisted that his own team remained firmly focused on defending its championship ambitions, maintaining that the club’s mandate had not changed despite the challenges of the new campaign.
“Our mandate is still the same. We are going to compete and win the league,” he said.
Qhogi thanked the supporters who turned up in numbers and expressed satisfaction with his players’ performance, admitting that the victory may not have been pretty but was valuable nonetheless.
“It was a scrappy win, but it counts,” he said.
He added that the victory would help rebuild confidence as the team continued working towards its objectives. He also acknowledged that new players needed time to settle and reach their best form.
Qhogi further noted that players seeking better opportunities could not be prevented from pursuing them, while insisting that the club would continue working with the squad available.
Meanwhile, Highlanders AM Head Coach Floyd Mogale was left frustrated by the officiating and his team’s failure to convert promising opportunities.
Mogale questioned the referee’s decisions and claimed that the goal should have been ruled offside and pointed to two occasions when Highlanders struck the crossbar but failed to find the equaliser.
“Football is a game of chances. We hit the crossbar twice,” he said.
Despite the consecutive defeats, Mogale insisted that there was no pressure within his camp, urging his players not to lose confidence or allow their heads to drop.
“We take the defeat and look at what we can do next. I need to motivate them and make sure they do not drop their heads,” he said.
The coach maintained that his team would regroup and work on their shortcomings as they sought to recover from the disappointing run of results.
