SANDILE, PHEPHISANI, MACHAWE DROPPED!

LOBAMBA – It is official – Mbabane Swallows striker Sandile Hlatshwako is out of the Sihlangu squad to face Zambia tomorrow.

Kostadin Papic’s men left the country yesterday without the lanky forward to face Zambia’s ‘Chipolopolo’ in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) final round second leg qualifier in Lusaka. The game will be played tomorrow. After dominating newspaper headlines for the better part of the week after failing to honour the call-up, Hlatshwako missed out on the trip alongside five other key players.

Also not part of the 20-member squad that left from the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Technical Centre in Lobamba yesterday are experienced defenders Machawe Dlamini and Siboniso Ndzabandzaba from Royal Leopard and Mbabane Swallows, respectively.  Leopard forward Sifiso Matse has since stepped into Hlatshwako’s shoes.

There was also no place for injured grafter Siboniso ‘Gaxa’ Ngwenya, Leopard goalkeeper Phephisani Msibi and Mbabane Highlanders full-back Vusi Vilakati in the team. ‘Gaxa’, who got injured in the first leg last month, had started in the reverse fixture alongside Machawe. They are the only two players from the starting team who have been left behind.

Young Buffaloes marksman Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze, on the other hand, was among those making the cut.  Worth mentioning is that Leopard reserve goalkeeper Mlamuli Makhanya has been  selected ahead of teammate Msibi, who is first choice at club level.

Head coach Papic expressed hope that his selected troops would grind the much needed win on the road.
“Zambia were not better than us in the first leg. They were not better at all.

Fight

“The mood in camp is good and we’ll try our best and fight for a win,” he said.
Bidding farewell to the team were top officials led by Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, who challenged the players to make history.

“The time has come for Sihlangu to play with the big boys. The time has come for Eswatini to take its place among football’s top table and that time is now.
“While we are all aiming for victory and equally believe in your capabilities to turn around this time, we are also cognisant of the fact that such a run in these qualifiers has already benefited the team in many ways and we will continue to reap the rewards of this adventure for many years,” said the minister. Also at yesterday’s farewell function was EFA President Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa.

The team left by road early yesterday to connect a 7pm flight in Johannesburg. They were expected at their final destination around 9pm yesterday.  The game will be played at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka. Sihlangu need to score at least two unanswered goals to be guaranteed a spot in the finals to be played in Cameroon next year. The national outfit are expected back home on Sunday night.

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