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GIVE ME MAGIC WAND – PAPIC

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MANZINI – It is match-day for the country’s senior national team Sihlangu Semnikati against tough Zambia’s Chipolopolo at Mavuso Sports Centre this afternoon.

It is a do or die two-legged clash to decide who goes to Cameroon next January. It is the final round of the African Nations Championships (CHAN) 2020 qualifiers – Eswatini, under the guidance of Serbian coach Kostadin Papic seek their maiden qualification into anything football has offered. In yesterday’s pre-match press conference at the host venue, Papic succinctly put it they were out for nothing but a win but also, the nation must come to support with positive minds because in ‘football results come and sometimes they don’t’.

“It’s unfortunate we did not make the World Cup group stage but now we have a chance for something else and that’s what we want to achieve. We’re still heartbroken but we got a match to win and that’s what matters. CHAN is our chance and we beat Zambia next year its Cameroon but we have to stop behaving like we’re Brazil or Argentina. “You lose an important match you fire the coach. I agree coaches and players you can change anytime but you’ll never achieve anything.

These players need support and we all come with a positive mindset at the stadium that’ll give us 12 players. I wish for a magic stick but I don’t have one and don’t know where I can get one. If you know where to get one so I can change things over night, then let me know,” he said ahead of the first leg clash today while second leg is October 19. The coach said reality must be faced that there was a lot of work to be done to achieve anything and currently, he felt  it strange he had to play about 17  this year only. “Which other coach came here and had so many games with instant results expected at the same time? I’m the first and it has to be understood some of these players are new in the national team.

change their style

“I have to change their style of play and that takes time which right now we don’t have. I’m very happy though with the way they have responded. We have gone down in rankings but we don’t deserve to be there after just one game but we’ll work way back up,” he said. He appealed for the nation’s support as they were bound to fight in this match and make up for Djibouti. He said they had been ready for the match since after Angola as that was when he knew the team to play Zambia but ‘we have to make just a few adjustments’. He also clearly was wary of the type of the opposition they were up against saying Zambia were a top class country and have achieved in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and COSAFA Cup and their players were in the Confederation of African Football tournaments every time. “A very tough opponent with a high ranking they are but we’ll see at the end of the first leg match who comes out smiling and I believe it will be us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Papic arrived in January where he resumed his job after signing for a year contract that is renewable based on performance and will have at least 12 official games this year with the AFCON second legs next year. So far the Serb has brought hope with the kind of football the national team plays save for the shock exit from the World Cup 2022 Qualifiers at hands of Djibouti.

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