‘PAPIC RIGHT COACH’

MBABANE – Going goalless for 45 or so minutes against 20th ranked Senegal in the football world and further scoring a goal are positives.

At least this is how South Africa-based Eswatini international, Felix Badenhorst feels about the future of the national team, Sihlangu Semnikati and its coach Kostadin Papic. Questioned on his views following the Senegal 4-1 drubbing of Sihlangu, Badenhorst, who plies his trade at National First Division side Mbombela United, in South Africa was confident the future was bright. Sihlangu are currently ranked 147 by the world-governing football mother body, Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA). “It shows that we are slowly but surely heading in the right direction. EmaSwati should be patient with this team and we have a good coach that needs their support like they did with coach ‘Madze’. “With time we will see the results,” Badenhorst said. He had said before the away clash in Guinea-Bissau, Sihlangu were capable of anything but needed time with the coach who was clearly leading them somewhere.

Renewal

He put his full weight behind Papic as the right man for the job. Papic’s contract comes to an end next month and renewal talks have so far not bore any fruit. Badenhorst further said that he was aware of his call-up but would not want to comment on it as the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and Papic were the rightful people to comment. EFA Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe had yesterday said he would have to enquire what transpired with the requests to South African Football Association (SAFA) who in turn communicate with the concerned player’s team. “Otherwise I’m always ready to play for the national team,” he said. Meanwhile, Sihlangu has played two first leg matches against Guinea-Bissau and Senegal in the African Nations (AFCON) Cup 2021 Qualifiers. The qualifiers will continue next year as they take a nine-month break, meaning Papic will only have the COSAFA Cup in May next year as the next task, if he decides to stay.

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