NO CAF RESPONSE, ‘SIKHALI’ OUT OF AC LEOPARDS CLASH

MBABANE – Highly likely, Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa will not play any part in this afternoon’s CAF Confederations Cup match though Mbabane Swallows have appealed CAF’s decision to suspend the game-a-goal striker for the tie.

The red and white glory seeking giants welcome AC Leopards of Congo Brazzaville at the Somhlolo National Stadium with the aim of overturning a 1-0 first leg defeat away in Dolisie last Sunday. ‘Sikhali’ was on Wednesday banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the second leg game, for allegedly breaking a dressing room door after the first leg tie at the Deni Sassou Ngesso Stadium.
‘Sikhali’s suspension was communicated by CAF through an e-mail to the National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS), which stated that also suspended is substitute Richard McCreesh, who was shown a red card for confronting assistant referee Kakunze Herve after he disallowed a legitimate King Mydo headed stoppage time goal.

On Thursday, Swallows sent their appeal to CAF through the NFAS secretariat and by the end of business yesterday, there was no responding correspondence from the continental football mother body on whether ‘Sikhali’ can be allowed to play, pending the appeal process following CAF’s Disciplinary Board ruling.
Even attempts by the Swazi News Sports Desk to contact CAF offices proved futile yesterday, possibly owing to the fact that it was a holiday as the office’s main telephone line in Cairo, Egypt was not answered.
The Christian community is celebrating Easter holidays that started yesterday and end on Monday.

NFAS Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frederick Mgomezulu said yesterday that ‘Sikhali’ remains suspended pending communication from CAF which has not been received. 
Swallows CEO Sibusiso Manana said there were waiting on the correspondence and could not comment further.    
Manana had said on Wednesday that as a team they are shocked at the latest accusations, describing the allegations as a big fat lie.
“There is nothing like that which happened. This shows the conspiracy against us. There was huge security personnel which included soldiers and police who guarded both dressing rooms. There is no way any of our players would do that. Not ‘Sikhali’ for that matter. I don’t know where this comes from,” a bewildered Manana said.

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