OUR SYSTEM WORKED, SAYS COACH ‘MADZE’

LOBAMBA – Sihlangu head coach Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga has defended his decision to start with six defenders in yesterday’s game against Sierra Leone.

Sihlangu played to a 1-1 draw against the visitors in the first of the double-legged African Nations Cup (AFCON) Qualifier game at the Somhlolo National Stadium yesterday. On the starting line-up for the locals were Sifiso Maseko, Sikhumbuzo Ntimane, Sifiso Mabila, Machawe Dlamini, Sifiso Nkambule and Siboniso Malambe.

Interviewed after the game, Bulunga said his plan was to neutralise the visitors’ danger men and also ensure that Sihlangu diffuses all attacks by the opposition.
“I think we played well and Sifiso (Nkambule) played well as the anchorman. He did well to mark the Sierra Leone danger man. Our plan really worked to our advantage. Moreover, we could not have opened up the game. We had to be cautious. Our opponents are better ranked than us, hence we had to be cautious going into the game.

“This tie is not over yet. Anything can still happen in Sierra Leone in two weeks time when we honour the second leg match. What we have to do now is to go back to the drawing board and correct our mistakes,” said Bulunga.

He noted that conceding an early goal put his players under tremendous pressure to bounce back and also lamented the forced substitution of striker Sandile Hlatjwako.
“It meant we were chasing the game from the onset and that really affected us,” he said.

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