Times Of Swaziland: FATIGUED YOUNG BUFFALOES IN DO OR DIE CLASH

FATIGUED YOUNG BUFFALOES IN DO OR DIE CLASH
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BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO on 22/02/2021 21:51:00


MBABANE – Dog-tired Young Buffaloes had only about 24 hours to prepare for the
do or die clash against Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia in the second leg
clash of the CAF Confederation Cup playoff match.
The army side arrived yesterday for the game, which has since been postponed to
today and they have a mountain to climb in overturning the first leg 1-2 defeat
held at Mavuso Sports Centre a week ago. They will have to win with a two-goal
difference.
Despite the travelling issues that the army side faced since Thursday –
zigzagging between Oshoek Border Gate and OR Tambo International Airport with
gay abandon - they were also forced to leave behind some of their senior players
due to the injuries and positive COVID-19 tests. The team is without Coach
Sabelo Mnisi and Friday Mncina is set to be in charge of the crucial match.
forced
Buffaloes will be forced to dig deep in their reserves of courage if they are to
produce the results that will see them qualify for the group stages having not
been in proper training since last Thursday as they have been travelling to and
from OR Tambo, Johannesburg for four days.
They also left behind some of their senior players which include talisman
Sandile ‘Saviola Gamedze and young star, Bongwa Matsebula, the scorer of the
lone goal in the first leg, which makes today’s clash still worth the trouble.
On a positive note, Buffaloes will welcome senior players in first choice
goalkeeper Nhlanhla Gwebu and striker Phiwa Dlamini, who were not part of the
team in the first leg at Mavuso Sports Centre.
In the field of play, they still have to deal with the bulky forceful striker
Soulymane Coulibaly, who netted a brace in the first leg match. There is also
the troublesome captain in Chikaqui Yassine.