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NHLANHLA GWEBU QUITS SIHLANGU

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MBABANE – Young Buffaloes goalkeeper Nhlanhla Gwebu has called it a day with the national team, Sihlangu.

Gwebu said he was too old to play for the national team as he was now concentrating on playing for Young Buffaloes where he looks to also retire soon. The former Malanti Chiefs, Green Mamba shot stopper, had played for Sihlangu for over a decade. “National team coaches should not consider calling me up to the squad as I have already played my part. May I take this opportunity to thank all the national team coaches who considered me to represent my country,” Gwebu said. He said with the experience he gained from playing for Sihlangu, he was hoping to share it with young and upcoming goalkeepers.

“My next stop in my football career is to become a goalkeeper coach, as my dream is to produce top class goalkeepers, who will play for Sihlangu and beyond Eswatini borders,” he said. Some of his highly profiled games for Sihlangu include against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in 2013 in a friendly match, 2018 World Cup Qualifiers against Nigeria and Zambia among others.

He also said that dream was within reach, but he should be given the chance in a smaller team, like Under-12s and 15s. The 31-year-old said his wish was to follow on the footsteps of former Royal Leopard and Sihlangu goal-minder Mphikeleli Dlamini, who is part of the Under-17s that are currently on international assignment in the Region Five Youth Games Maseru, Lesotho. Gwebu said he enjoyed his time at the national team with players including Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze, Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko, Sifiso Mabila and Felix Badenhorst among others. Gwebu said he was part of Amathole’zinyathi as he still has a lot to offer the team in the season but his days are numbers with the club between the poles.

numbered

“I am still the first choice at Buffaloes, however my playing days are now numbered, that is why I don’t feature a lot in the team’s games,” he said. He said he was the one who suggested that they should rotate the goalies in the team so that they can gain the necessary experience. “I can’t be playing football my entire life and what is going to happen when I decide to retire, I don’t want see the team struggling with goalkeepers, that is why I said we should give Mlungisi to showcase his talent,” he said,

He further urged other teams to give youngsters a chance as this would help them gain experience and to develop as players. Sihlangu Coach Dominic Kunene said it was hard for him to comment on the retirement of Gwebu on playing for the squad, as the best person to give a clear comment was goalkeeper Coach Sipho Dube. “This is a special department which I cannot comment on, the right person is Sipho Dube, who is our goalkeeper coach,” Kunene said.
Dube could not be drawn for comment as his phone rung unanswered and WhatsApp messages sent to him were not responded, by the time this report was compiled.

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