SIHLANGU TO PLAY TANZANIA, KENYA

MBABANE – Tough times lie ahead for Sihlangu as the Tanzania national team will come calling next month.

The Tanzanians will be here to honour an international preparatory clash against the local squad following a challenge by the National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS).

After the game against Tanzania, which should be the first between the two countries in recent times, the squad will then host Kenya in November.
Both games, according to the NFAS Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frederick Mngomezulu, will be played during the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) allocated weeks.

“The reason the squad is active and playing the friendly matches, like the game we will be playing against Namibia tomorrow night (tonight), is to ensure that we remain active. If you take into consideration the fact that almost all the countries are busy and are utilising the FIFA weeks, then it is easy to deduce that by the time official tournaments come, Sihlangu would be rusty.

“That is a situation we are trying to avoid at all costs because you will be aware that next year will be one of the busiest years for the squad. We will be playing in the CHAN tournament, the AFCON Qualifiers and the World Cup Qualifiers. All those games should find the squad in the right frame for us to compete and do so effectively.

That is why we are targeting countries like Tanzania and Kenya,” said Mngomezulu
He said it was also in their plans to ensure that the squad got the away international exposure. Mngomezulu also noted that the latest method used to pair teams by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) was now tricky.

“The reality is that we can play against any country. Gone are the days when weaker teams used to play against each other. What happens now is that Sihlangu can find itself having to play against heavyweights like Nigeria, Ivory Coast and the likes. We should be ready and not panic when that time comes to play against some of the best countries in the continent.
Sihlangu to play Tanzania, Kenya

“People should not read much into the COSAFA Cup cancellation and think the game against Namibia is useless for instance because we are preparing for next year,” he said.

Sihlangu are away in Namibia currently to honour an international preparatory game against Namibia’s Brave Warriors.
They are expected back home tomorrow.

Qualifiers

Next year, Sihlangu will feature in the COSAFA Cup, the 2017 African Nations Cup (AFCON) Qualifiers, the CHAN tournament and also feature in the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers.

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