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PLAYERS LACK VISION TO PLAY ABROAD – ‘SHISA JUNIOR’

04/10/2022 08:32:00 Machawe Fakudze

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MBABANE – Former Eswatini international John ‘Junior Shisa’ Mdluli feel the country’s players lack vision to play abroad.

The former Manzini Wanderers and Hapoel Jerusalem player was reacting to a question posed to him over the reason why the country was failing to have players that ply their trade beyond the borders of Eswatini, like it was in yesteryears. He scored a goal while playing for Hapoel against Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata in 2001, which was voted for the goal of the decade by the supporters of his then team.

challenge

“I think the challenge we are having as a country to have international players is because of the lack of vision from our players. The players are now focused on signing-on fees and salaries. With us it was more of wanting to play for the national team,” Mdluli said. He said playing for the national team Sihlangu gave them international exposure where teams scouted them and the standard of the game had drastically changed from the way they used to play. “Nowadays the players lack the basics of football, which is something they consider very much internationally,” he said.

He also said the only international player the country has in South African Motsepe Championship side All Stars’ Justice Figaureido has all the basics of football. He felt that was the reason he was still playing in South Africa. He then gave an advice to players who were looking to emulate the likes of Dennis ‘Yuki’ Masina, Sibusiso ‘Spoko’ Dlamini, Siza ‘King Pele’ Dlamini, Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko, Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze as well as himself to focus on improving their game day by day. “This means more individual training, keeping a healthy diet and staying away from bad habits,” the former Sihlangu striker said. He further urged upcoming players and the current crop of elite league players to listen and understand their coaches’ instructions.