UNDER-17S OFF TO A GREAT START IN COSAFA CUP

Eswatini U-17s...... (2)3
Bandile 20th, 86th, Langelihle 26th
Zim U-17s............... (0)2
Thando 60th, John 65th

MBABANE – The national Under-17s side are off to a dream start in the COSAFA Youth Championships in Mauritius following a surprise 3-2 win over Zimbabwe in their opener yesterday.

For a moment, the nation forgot about the senior national team’s dismal showing in Polokwane last month, as a brace by Man of the Man Bandile Shabangu and a strike by Langelihle Dlamini steered the Velekhaya Mthethwa-led ensemble past favourites Zimbabwe. They are in control in their group at the tournament and remain in pursuit of a historic qualification to the Tanzania Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.

The 2018 COSAFA Under-17 Championships have added significance this year as they serve as the qualifier from the Southern African region for the continental finals to be staged in Tanzania next year.

Eswatini were cruising by the interval, as they were 2-0 up, but almost gave away the match after the hour-mark as parity had been restored. Bandile ensured the pendulum swung in the local’s side favour again when he scored the winner four minutes from time.

According to a live update from the COSAFA official Twitter page, it was a ‘frenetic’ start for Eswatini who applied non-stop pressure. Bandile broke the deadlock from a header after one Maponga failed to save a shot in the 20th minute. Six-minute later, the country’s outfit easily went through the Zimbabwe defence, with Langelihle firing past the goalkeeper with a heavy shot.

The team talk did a trick for Zimbabwe as they had restored parity through John Bonomali by the 65th minute until Bandile came to rescue.
Coach Mthethwa conceded the win never came on a silver platter, lauding his charges for their fighting spirit.
“The Man of the Match (Bandile) has a huge potential.
“He has a cool head and he is a fighter,” said Mthethwa.

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