IT’S MAKE OR BREAK FOR SIHLANGU

MBABANE – “Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.” This quote by William Arthur Ward should propel Sihlangu to the top, as they look to bounce back from last Wednesday’s setback in Djibouti.

After losing by 1-2 away in the reverse fixture of the FIFA World Cup preliminary round first leg qualifier, Kostadin Papic’s men need to break records to earn a spot in the group stages of the qualifiers.

No Eswatini team has won an official international game at Mavuso Sports Centre in the last 12 outings, but it is high time Sihlangu break the duck at the expense of the ‘Shoremen of the Red Sea’. 
An unanswered goal will be enough to earn Sihlangu a spot in the next round on away goal rule. Marksman Felix Badenhorst is out injured but Papic will be spoilt for choice on home soil.

selection

Players who were left behind will be available for selection and they include grafter Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu and the likes of Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze and Bonginkhosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini, who just got call ups.

The need to strengthen the backdoor can not not be overstated after conceding two penalties in the first leg.
For Djibouti, the equation is simple – keep the backdoor shut and earn a spot in the next round.

They are yet to go beyond this stage in the qualifiers but they are steadily rising under French-born gaffer Julien Mette.
During their last visit to the country, they lost 1-2 to Sihlangu. They would come into this afternoon’s clash with renewed vigour after the surprise win last week.

The games are coming thick and fast, but this is one test Sihlangu must pass to set the tone for a good outing in next week’s African Nations Championships (CHAN) qualifier against Zambia.

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