LINDO MKHONTA TO CAPTAIN SIHLANGU SEMNIKATI
The Senior Men’s National Team (Sihlangu SeMnikati) head coach Zdravko Logarusic has appointed Zesco United F.C. captain Lindo Mkhonta to be the skipper of the national team ahead of the back-to-back matches against Mozambique. Lindo Mkhonta last played for the national team when Eswatini played away against Mauritius in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. When addressing the members of the media at the Mavuso Sports Centre on Tuesday afternoon during the open media day for the national team, the head coach highlighted that he needed Mkhonta back to the national team to add his experience and to stabilize the defence of the national team. “I needed Lindo for his experience and to stabilize the defence. He will also captain the national team,” Logarusic said.
When talking about the opponents, he stated that Mozambique is a good team as they parade European based players and considering their recent results in the group; they are the best team at the moment. “Mozambique is a good team as they have players who play their club football in Europe. They got good results in the previous matches in the group which makes them the best team in the group at the present moment”, Logarusic said.
The players looked ready and sharp in camp and this was attested by some of them. Justice Figareido who plays for Richards Bay F.C. in the Betway Premiership in South Africa assured his readiness for the match on Friday and acknowledged the transformation that the head coach has implemented in camp. “My preparations for the match are fine and the head coach has introduced great transformation in the team,” Figareido said.
Another player who is making his come back to the national team is Felix Bandernhorst who also acknowledged the wonderful team spirit in camp. “So far so good in camp. We believe we will work well and get good results,” Badernhost said.
Sandile Gamedze who is also making a return in the national team expressed his delight of being back to the squad. “I am happy to be back in the national team. The head coach is good as we are having good relations with him. We are enjoying his training. He wants us to be more offensive and score more goals,” Gamedze said.
Eswatini is at the basement of the group with zero points and these two matches against Mozambique are very important as they will have a significant bearing in as far as the future of the national team in the TotalEnergies AFCON Qualifiers is concerned.