Eswatini Football Association

Eswatini Football Association (EFA) has united with the globe in the fight against AIDS. “As the world commemorated the world AIDS day, the EFA would like to extend her solidarity and shared responsibility towards the fight against AIDS” the EFA said through a statement. The football association reminds the populace that the fight is not over thus there is still a need to increase awareness and the impact of HIV on people’s lives. “With solidarity and shared responsibility, we can suppress the stigma and discrimination and improve the quality of life of people living with HIV” said part of the statement.

EFA also highlighted that even though the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has also affected us adversely; we mustn’t forget the havoc that HIV has done and still can do to our lives. “No one is safe unless we all safe”, the statement read.

The football association also acknowledged His Majesty’s Government and her partners for the efforts in the fight against the AIDS epidemic over the years since the first case was reported in the country. “As an organisation we believe that global problems needs global solidarity, thus only global solidarity and shared responsibility can help us beat the COVID-19 pandemic and the AIDS epidemic”, the statement concluded.

The Senior Men’s National Team (Sihlangu) is ready to face Congo Brazzaville which will be a back-to-back clash between the two nations. Sihlangu will play against the Red Devels in Brazzaville on the 12^th November 2020 with the second leg to be played four days later at the Mavuso Sports Centre in Manzini. When addressing the media at the Somhlolo National Stadium; Sihlangu Head Coach Dominic Kunene was optimistic that the players were now ready for the match. “The players are committed to play for the country and in terms of physical fitness; they are not bad. We want to win and with nine points from the remaining matches, we can qualify for the Total AFCON Finals”, said Kunene.

He also highlighted that in as much as their focus is on having a clean sheet, they will also respect the game. “We are focusing on how to protect our goals whilst respecting the game”, Kunene said. Currently the national team is without the international players who are expected to join the national when the international FIFA week starts. “The international players will be part of the squad as we stated before that every capable player can play for the national team”, Kunene highlighted.

The hard tackling defender Lindokuhle Mkhonta will captain the Senior Men’s National Team (Sihlangu) for the first time when the nation’s pride plays against Congo Brazzaville on the 12^th November 2020. He highlighted that, to be captain of the national team comes with huge responsibilities of which, he is looking forward in handling them. “It is not easy to be the captain of the national team but I will consult from the previous captains in order to live up to the expectations”, Mkhonta said. The hard man in the Sihlangu defence also highlighted that the long break of football had its effects towards them as players as they first struggled during the early days of the training camp. “We first struggled but we have improved after the long break of football due to the COVID-19 pandemic”, Mkhonta said. He also highlighted that training under the COVID-19 pandemic was different than before as there are a lot of health protocols that are now implemented. As a true leader, the captain was confident that they can get maximum points away from home. “We want the maximum points away from home”, Mkhonta said.

It was a game of two halves as Eswatini won the opening match against Comoros in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Eswatini did not have a good first half as Comoros was the most dominant team. This was confirmed by the first half score as Comoros was leading by 2-0 by the time the referee sent both teams to the dressing rooms. The goals for Comoros were scored by Abdourahmene Hairyat in the 16^th minute and Attoumane Hadhiroimi in the 53^rd minute.

Just when Comoros thought they have done the job, Eswatini had different ideas in the second half. Sitsebe as the Eswatini Senior Women’s National team is known raised their work rate and applied more pressure to Comoros which resulted in the opening of spaces for the Swatis. Sitsebe was able to take more shots at goal than in the first half. Sitsebe was able to score their first goal of this COSAFA edition via the boots of Phumzile Dlamini in the 65^th minutes. This goal motivated Eswatini to apply more pressure towards Comoros which resulted in the second goal that was scored by Tenanile Ngcamphalala in the 75^th minute.

Eswatini continued to dominate the match as Comoros was now panicking which made them to loss possession easily. In the 87^th minutes where a draw was more of a possible result, Eswatini netted the 3^rd goal through Nonjabuliso Mokgale in the 87^th minute. Comoros efforts of getting an equalizer dimished when Phumzile Dlamini completed her brace with a well taken goal in the 90^th minute which sealed Eswatini’s maximum points. The next match for Eswatini will be on Friday against the host on the same grass.