PAPIC EYES ‘TT’ OR SANDILE

MBABANE – They have been in outstanding form for their teams since the start of the season – now one of them stands to face Zambia’s Chipolopolo in a fortnight.

The elite trio of Mbabane Swallows’ pair, winger and Captain Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze, teammate striker Sandile Hlatshwako and Young Buffaloes’ goalkeeper Nhlanhla Gwebu stand to get national team Sihlangu call-ups. The Swallows duo has been influential in the team’s six-game unbeaten run in the ongoing MTN Premier League. Swallows have won five, drew one out of six while scoring highest so far, 16 goals and conceding only two. Tsabedze has already won the Player of the Month gong for August and has scored four times. Hlatshwako is the leading scorer with five goals and netted four in one game over the weekend as they routed their hoodoo side, Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows 4-1.

Hlatshwako was also handed a soccer ball for his quadruple but the soccer ball recognises a hat-trick or more goals. He also was the only player to win the E5 000 hat-trick incentive by league sponsors MTN Eswatini. They both have several assists in the team’s other goals and highly likely to catch the eye of national team coach, Kostadin Papic, who has assured that one of them will certainly be in the squad to go to camp next week. Sihlangu must prepare for the do-or-die clash with Zambia’s Chipolopolo for a spot in the African Nations Championships (CHAN) 2020 Finals in Cameroon next January. “Final squad will come out next week Thursday. It will be new faces in the squad,” he said, without naming anyone.

However, he was pressed on currently in-form stars, including the abovementioned trio and he gave hope to the players and nation which has been calling for these players, in particular Tsabedze. He was asked if there would be any big names and if he was aware of Hlatshwako’s comment that he would take a call-up with both hands.

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“Who are big names? I thought we have them already. One of them will definitely be in the squad,” he responded to the specific question about the trio. Papic also said he was hopeful that this time his call-ups would go alright as last time, Hlatshwako could not make it. Meanwhile, the nation’s pride goes to the second leg with a heavy task as they lost 0-1 at home in the first leg played at Mavuso Sports Centre, Manzini last month. The second leg clash is billed for the National Heroes Stadium on October 19.

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