Mbabane: After reporting for camp last Thursday, Sihlangu stars will spend 32 days in the bubble.
Being in the bubble means days without seeing your loved ones in an attempt to curb infections or transmissions being brought to their EFA Technical Center base in Lobamba. Already, there is tight security at the camp base with limited measures or no visitors’ control implemented.
Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu said the standards set at the Technical Centre which includes high hygiene measures are out they expect from teams when the 2019/2020 football season get underway in November 20.
New Sihlangu coach Dominic Kunene has gone for ‘soldiers’ he knows and trust after naming 10 Young Buffaloes players in 28-men squad.
The senior national team went for camp on Thursday October 15, in readiness for next month’s back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations 2021 qualifier matches against Congo Brazzaville.
The away match is scheduled for November 13 with the return leg on November 17 at the Mavuso Sports Center.
The former Buffaloes strategist will be leading Sihlangu in his first match following his appointment back in February.
The provisional squad of 28 players went to full time camp as Sihlangu work on salvaging Group I following defeats to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau in the opening two matches.
Interestingly, Kunene did not call any international players in his squad despite recent football action for the likes of Felix Badenhorst, Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu, Justice Figareido and Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze. Fellow international Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa remain banned from football following his registration madness which saw Mbombela United relegated from the GlafAfrican Championships.
Badenhorst and Figareido recently signed for Premier Soccer League rookies TS Galaxy and are expected to be in action this weekend when the South Africa’s DsTV Premiership gets underway.
Local players last kicked a ball in March after football was suspended due to the novel Coronavirus.
SIHLANGU AFCON SQUAD
Sandanezwe Mathabela, Sizolwethu Shabalala, Nhlanhla Ngwenya (all Mbabane Swallows FC); Nhlanhla Gwebu, Siboniso Mamba, Sihlangu Mkhwanazi, Wandile Maseko, Lindo Mkhonta, Siboniso Ngwenya, Fanelo Mamba, Wandile Shabangu, Sandile Gamedze, Phiwayinkhosi Dlamini (all Young Buffalloes FC); Khanya Shabalala, Simphiwe Manana, Sabelo Gamedze (All Mbabane Highlanders FC); Ncamiso Dlamini, Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, Mlamuli Msibi, Mzwandile Mabelesa, Sifiso Matse, Sdumo Dlamini (all Royal Lepoards FC); Felizwe Vilakati (Manzini Sundowns FC), Sanele Chauke, Njabulo Tfwala (All Green Mamba FC), Linda Mbuli (Milling Hotspurs FC); Mthunzi Motsa (Moneni Pirates FC); Muzi Tsabedze (Manzini Sea Birds FC)
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