KWAKHE AND KARAS TO MISS THE TOTALENERGIES CHAN QUALIFIERS AGAINST ZIMBABWE
As the Senior Men’s National Team prepares for the upcoming TotalEnergies CHAN Qualifiers against Zimbabwe, two players who were part of the national team will not be making the trip to Francis Town and Mbombela where the first and second leg of this fixture will be played.
The national team head coach Zdravko Logarusic has confirmed that Kwakhe Thwala has been dropped from the squad due to conduct. “Kwakhe did not show enough commitment and discipline; thus, forcing me to drop him,” Logarusic said. The head coach was not happy on Kwakhe’s conduct as he reported very late for camp with no explanation for doing so, and being one of the captains for both club and country, the coach felt that this was a bad conduct by the player. “He should be a role model as he is one of the captains for the national team, and he is the captain for his team which is a very big club in the country that also won the MTN League Champion last season of which such conduct is not acceptable to a player of his calibre”, Lugarusic said.
As for Bongi Magagula, it was a tricky situation for the coach as the player reported to be injured and the necessary arrangements were made to assess his injury only for the player not to avail himself. “I am confused about Karas because efforts to assess his injury were made only for him not to avail himself,” Lugarusic said.
Regardless of the dropping of these two players, the other national team players are looking forward to the matches against Zimbabwe. Veteran striker, Sabelo Ndzinisa is back in the squad after missing the TotalEnergies AFCON Qualifier Matches against Mozambique. “I am happy to be part of the national team, and I have no hard feelings for not be part of the squad that played against Mozambique as every coach has his/her philosophy of which we as players is to play for the coach,” Ndzinisa said.
Thubelihle Mavuso acknowledged the good work that the coaches are doing. “The coaches are preparing us very well, as they are empowering us as per the demands of the national team football”, Mavuso said.
Eswatini will play the first leg against Zimbabwe at the City of Francistown-Obed Itani Chilume Stadium on Sunday, 27th October 2024. Kick-off is at 1500hrs. The second leg will be played on Saturday, 2nd November 2024 at the Mbombela Stadium. Kick-off is at 1800hrs.
