TEAM HAS POTENTIAL – PAPIC

MANZINI – Sihlangu coach Kostadin Papic is convinced his misfiring troops will deliver one day. In reaction to the 1-all draw with Angola in an African Nations Championships (CHAN) second round first leg qualifier at Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday, the Serbia-born gaffer lamented the missed opportunities especially in the first half.

“We should have led 4-0 in the first half, but we’ve missed.
“I insist this team has potential. We need to be patient. We’re creating chances but some of the players are not in good shape. It is difficult to prepare players for a national team when it is pre-season,” he said.

Heading into the return match in Angola on Saturday, Papic said there was nothing much to change, revealing that he would welcome back talisman Sandile Gamedze, who was sidelined by an injury. Captain Banele ‘Makonese’ Dlamini remains doubtful.

chance

On not giving a chance to League top goalscorer Musa Dlamini, who scored 15 times in the past season, Papic said the Green Mamba forward was not in good shape yet and he needed to fight for a place in the team.

Visiting coach Jose Silvestre, on the other hand, felt the opponents proved a hard nut to crack, but lamented the state of the Mavuso pitch, highlighting that it was slippery.

“We got punished for mistakes.

“It is not the end of the game, as we have to work hard in the return match,” said the Portuguese-speaking mentor, who paraded an interpreter.
The winner of the second leg will face either Zambia or Botswana.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: