‘XAVI’, FELIX OUT OF COSAFA CUP

MBABANE – It only gets worse for the national team, Sihlangu ahead of the COSAFA Castle Cup.

While Mbabane Swallows players who dominate the squad have been ruled out of the team to play in the 2017 COSAFA Cup edition due to the club’s participation in the CAF Confederation Cup, international players Felix Badenhorst and Mthunzi ‘Xavi’ Mkhontfo are also likely to miss out due to the CAF Championships League.

The duo’s DR Congo team, AS Vita will play Tunisia’s E.S.T at home in the Total CAF Championships League two days before Sihlangu joins the COSAFA Cup in the quarter-finals on July 2.
AS Vita will also travel to South Africa a week later where they will face Mamelodi Sundowns and Sihlangu will be playing the semi-finals if they had lost, while if they have been victorious they will play in the semi-finals on July 5.
The finals of the COSAFA Castle Cup are billed for July 9, while the Plate finals are scheduled for July 7. The COSAFA Castle Cup falls out of the FIFA weeks and clubs are not forced to release players for the regional tournament.

Felix and Xavi were part f the players who were selected to prepare for the AFCON 2019 Qualifiers match against Niger. Xavi was dropped in the last minute of the trip due to an injury, while Felix was part of the team that played a goalless draw in Niger on Saturday.

Some of the Mbabane Swallows players are out of the Sihlangu squad are Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza, Sanele Mkhweli, Mandla Palma, Sifiso Mabila, Sanele Mkhweli, Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu, Wonder Samba Jive’ Nhleko, Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze, Sandile Hlatshwako  and Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze.

The National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) Marketing and Communications Officer, Muzi Radebe, said they are aware that chances of having players participating in the CAF Competitions are small. He said this will be an opportunity for other players to represent the country at international level and show their capabilities.

“This is the chance for other players to compete at a high level. The COSAFA Castle Cup is an important competition and as a country, we do want to win it. It’s just a fact that it falls outside the FIFA calendar,” he said.
Sihlangu is expected back in camp on Monday to start the COSAFA Castle up preparations.

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