‘MANYOVU’ DROPPED

MBABANE – Eswatini international and former Royal Leopard player Bonginkosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini has been dropped from the national team, Sihlangu, squad for the Togo and Burkina Faso games.

‘Manyovu’, who plies his trade with top Angolan side Sagrada Esperanca, was intially named in the 26-member squad by Coach Dominic Kunene alongside another international in Cape Town All Stars Justice ‘Figa’ Figuareido. The former Denver Sundowns winger is currently in camp with his South African side in preparation for the second match of the 2022 DStv Promotion and Relegation playoffs against Swallows today. ‘Figa’s Manager Zukiswa Simelukane had earlier disclosed to this publication that the player was not requested by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and he was in their plans for the playoffs, but he was named in the final 20-member squad for the two TOTALEnergies AFCON Qualifiers. Sihlangu face Togo away this Friday before a home match against Burkina Faso on Tuesday.

National team mentor Kunene said EFA arranged on how the player would join the rest of the Sihlangu players en route to Lome in Togo. “The issue of ‘Manyovu’ is an administrative one,” he briefly said without giving further explanation as he said he was rushing to board the bus. Other players who could not make the trip to Lome are the duo of Royal Leopard goalkeeper Phephisani Msibi and defender Sikhumbuzo Magagula; Mbabane Swallows midfielder Leon Manyisa; and Manzini Sea Birds striker Muzi Tsabedze. National team skipper Lindokuhle Mkhonta, on the other hand, promised the nation that they would maintain the good performance of the past.

Pressure

The Young Buffaloes defender said this during the farewell ceremony for the squad  in the presence of the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga at Lobamba Technical Centre yesterday. “We know what we did previously during such games; we have put pressure on ourselves and now we need to up our game and perform much better,” Mkhonta said. He told the minister that as players there were more than ready to take the task ahead and all the players in the squad were well. He then urged the nation to rally behind them. He promised the country that they would come back home with positive results. Meanwhile, Coach Dominic Kunene thanked Eswatini Football Association (EFA) for the support they gave the team while in camp. He said preparations went well and were hopeful that they would perform well in both the 2023 TOTALEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers against Togo and Burkina Faso.

Officials

The 20-men squad, which includes 10 officials, headed by Hhohho Regional Football Association (HRFA) Chairman Nigel Shongwe, left the country yesterday for Johannesburg to connect a flight to Lome. Sihlangu bade farewell to minister Bulunga, Principal Secretary (PS) Prince Mlayeto, EFA President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezula at Lobamba Technical Centre yesterday afternoon. The game will be played next Tuesday, while the second match will be played four days later in South Africa in a venue yet to be confirmed by EFA.

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