Eswatini Football Association
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The unique competition that brings football and culture together was officially launched at the Sinncephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF) Headquarters in Mbabane. Present during this historic event was the Chairman of the competition Prince Hlangabeza ; Prince Bukhosi; Minister of Sports , Culture and Youth Affairs Honourable Minister David Ngcamphalala; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SMVAF Helmon Vilakati ; Vice President of the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and the Chairman of the Premier League of Eswatini just to mention but a few.
In his remarks, Prince Hlangabeza acknowledged His Majesty The King Mswati III for coming up with this unique competition as it perfectly combines football and culture. “We have to thank His Majesty The King for this competition as it enhances our culture which is our true identity as Emaswati”; he said. He also highlighted the importance of the combined effort by all stakeholders to this competition as its success was a team effort. He also urged the teams to put more effort as this is a big competition.
The Honerable Minister Harries Bulunga echoed the Prince’s words as he also acknowledged His Majesty The King Mswati III for this competition as the increase in its sponsorship package will motivate the teams to put more effort. He also stressed the importance of using sports to market the country considering the change of name from Swaziland to Eswatini. “This competition will provide a perfect platform to market the country internationally”; Bulunga said.
The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) and the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) has urged football teams to compete in the spirit of fair play during football matches. This was said by the EFA Vice President Dr. comfort Shongwe and the Chairman of the PLE, Peter Magagula during the official launch of the Ingwenyama SMVAF Cup in Mbabane. “As the EFA, we encourage football teams to win and lose matches in the football pitch rather than running to courts”; Shongwe said. He also urged football teams to meet the standards of club licensing inorder for the local football to develop, thus the economy will also benefit as more people will be employed through the sport.
On the other hand the PLE Chairman, Peter Magagula said “As PLE, we encourage all football teams to compete in the spirit of fair play and accept results as they come”.
There is an English saying which says “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet”. This is what the participants of the recently completed FIFA MA Women Football Coaching Course can attest to. The was a lot of work in and out of the classroom as the coaches were being trained by the hard working Namibian born FIFA Instructor, MS Jaqueline Shipanga.
“Your knowledge as coaches has been enhanced”; said the Eswatini Football Association President (EFA), Mr. Adam Mthethwa. This is an indication that the participants are now expected to implement what they have learnt from this course thus they will be perfect vehicles of the football association towards the development of football in the country. “Having this course works well towards the realization of our objective as the football association”; Mthethwa said. The President of the EFA also highlighted that as a way of developing women football in the country, the aspect of empowering local coaches is very key inorder to properly develop the girl child.
On the other hand; the FIFA Instructor Ms. Jaqueline Shipanga acknowledged FIFA and EFA for their effort towards the development of women football in the country. “I congratulate FIFA and EFA for making this course possible and also the fact that Eswatini is one of the few countries who participate in women football international competitions”; Shipanga said. She also acknowledged the country for sending a women’s football team to the Region5 games in Botswana as this competition presents a perfect opportunity for coach educators to gain more expertise. The FIFA Instructor also eulogized COSAFA for her effort owards the development of women football and also making deliberate attempt towards the embracement of the development of the girl child.
The participants through Mrs Nonhlanhla Shoulder-Massoya acknowledged FIFA and EFA for the facilitation of this course and also for them being the participants as they have benefited a lot.
The President of the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Mr. Adam Mthethwa officially opened the FIFA MA Women Football Association that is currently taking place at the Technical Centre in Lobamba. The EFA President acknowledged FIFA for facilitating this course and also officially welcomed the FIFA Instructoe, Jacqueline Shipanga.
“Our core business as the national association in the country is to develop football and women football is a priority for us”, Mthethwa said. As a matter of fact, the football association is really living by its word as it is possible the only football association that has a Women Football Association which supports the seriousness of the EFA in developing women football in the country. “We are also happy that the Head Coach of the Women Senior National Team is a lady which also adds value towards the development of women football in the country.
The FIFA Instructor, Jacqueline Shipanga acknowledged the EFA ‘s efforts towards the development of women football in the country which also complements the efforts of FIFA, CAF and COSAFA’s efforts. “I am also happy that we have at least six women participants in this course which is an indication that women football in Eswatini is growing”; Shipanga said.
This course will end on Friday.
Sihlangu SeMnikati Interim Head Coach, Anthony Mdluli has named the following players for the match against Niger in the TOTAL AFCON Qualifier Match to be played on Sunday, 11th November 2018. They are as follows:
Sandanezwe Mathabela (Mbabne Swallows FC), Thokozani Mkhulisi (Green Mamba FC), Phephisani Msibi (Royal Leopards FC), Siboniso Mamba (Young Buffaloes FC), Banele Dlamini (Green Mamba FC), Sifiso Nkambule (Royal Leopards FC), Wandile Maseko (Young Buffaloes), Sanele Chauke (Green Mamba FC), Lindo Mkhonta (Young Buffaloes FC), Zweli Nxumalo (Royal Leopards FC), Richard Macreesh (Mbabane Swallows FC), Mxolisi Mkhontfo (Grren Mamba FC), Machawe Dlamini (Young Buffaloes FC), Sifiso Matse (Royal Leopards FC), Sizolwethu Shabalala (Mbabane Swallows FC), Sibonginkhisi Gamedze (Mbabane Highlanders FC),Tony Tsabedze (Mbabane Swallows FC), Melusi Mkhwanazi (Royal Leopards FC), Mthunzi Mkhontfo (Green Mamba FC), Fanelo Mamba (Young Buffaloes FC), Sandile Hlatshwayo (Mbabane Swallows FC), Sandile Gamedze (Young Buffaloes FC), Musa Dlamini (Green Mamba FC), Mlamuli Nkambule (Mbabane Highlanders FC), Lungelo Tsabedze (Royal Leopards FC), Junior Magagula (Royal Leopards FC), Justice Figareido (Maritzburg United).
On another note, the U23s interim Head Coach, Sifiso Ntibane has named the following players for the back-to-back matches against Mozambique in the TOTAL AFCON Qualifier Matches to be played in Maputo on Friday, 16th and Tuesday, 20th November 2018 respectively. They are as follows:
Lwethu Simelanr (Manzini Sundowns FC), Lindani Mtsetfwa (Manzini Sea Birds FC), Bongiswa Dlamini (Sidwashini FC), Machawe Dlamini (Vovovo FC), Mlamuli Msibi (Royal Leopards FC), Meshack Lushaba (Midas City FC), Sibonelo Sibandze (Young Buffaloes FC), Mcedisi Dlamini (Vovovo FC), Mkhuleko Magagula (Manzini sundowns FC), Peter Dlamini (Mbabane Highlanders FC), Melusi Dlamini (Hlatikuli Tycoons FC), Sidumo Myeni (All Nations FC), Wandile Sacolo (Mbabane Citizens FC), Leon Manyisa (Vovovo FC), Phumlani Matsenjwa (Moneni Pirates FC), Gcinwayinkhosi Dlamini (Manzini Sea Birds FC), Ndumiso Mabuza (Mbabane Highlanders FC, Likhwa Thwala (Milling Hotspurs FC), Sethu Mabilisa (Vovovo FC), Bongwa Matsebula (Madlenya FC), Muzi Tsabedze (Manzini Sea Birds FC), Themba Mthembu (All Nations FC), Ayanda Kunene (Mbabane Citezens FC), Mcebisi Motsa (Hlatikulu Tycoons FC).
The U20 Men’s national team have been drowned in Group B of the COSAFA Championships to be played in Kitwe, Zambia. They with Namibia, Mauritius and South Africa who have won this championship six times. This competition will be played as from December 2-14. In group A, the is Zambia, Malawi, Reunion and Mozambique; and in group C; there is Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Angola and Botswana.
Present during this draw was the COSAFA President, Dr. Phillip Chyangwa who highlighted the opportunities that this competition presents. “It is an exciting draw and one that will produce plenty of thrilling football during the competition, but also a chance for these boys to test their skills against their peers from around the region”; Chiyangwa said. This championship will not only provide development opportunities to the players only; but it does so to the coaches, match officials and administrators.
The nation’s pride, Sihlangu SeMnikati has left the country this morning for Cairo, Egypt for the acidic test against the Pharoahs of Egypt in a 2019 AFCON Qualifier match which will be played at the Al Salam Stadium on Friday, 12th October 2018. The national team left with a total 10 officials and 20 players and the Head of delegation is Mr. Johannes Siboza who is an Executive Member.
Sihlangu SeMnikati is expected to arrive in Cairo in the early hours of Thursday morning and finalize their preparations for the Friday’s match against the most successful national team on the African soil. With Egypt parading world class players who play their club football in the best leagues in the world of football; the national team players are very much focused in making history for the country and themselves as they want to make-up to what happened when they played against Egypt five years ago as the local side lost by 10-0.
“Even though Egypt is a strong opposition, we will do our level best in the field of play”; said the nation’s pride skipper; Tony “TT” Tsabedze. His words were echoed by the national team Head Coach Anthony Mdluli who highlighted about the acidic test that they are going to encounter when they face the Pharaohs on Friday. “It is true that Egypt is a strong opposition; but we will do everything possible to get good results in this match”; Mdluli said. The national team is expected back home on Sunday.
Sihlangu SeMnikati is shaping up for the acidic back-to-back encounters against the Pharaohs of Egypt which is the most successful national team in the African continent. The nation’s pride under the guidance of Anthony Mdluli (Interim Head Coach) and his technical team are working around the clock in making the national team to be ready for this two 2019 TOTAL AFCON qualifier matches come Friday, 12th and 16th October 2018 respectively. The first match will be at the El-Salam Stadium in Cairo, Egypt with the second match in 4-days’ time at the Mavuso Sports Centre in Manzini, Eswatini.
“We are preparing the players both physically and psychologically as it is a difficult task to play top national teams in Africa like Egypt, Tunisia and morocco just to mention but a few”; Mdluli said. According to him; the players are responding positively in as far as the preparations are concerned including the youngsters that have been included in the national team. “The players are responding very well at training and the youngsters are also doing very well as we are not putting them under pressure as they are the future of the national team. They are also learning a lot about the culture of the national team”; he said. The nations pride is scheduled to leave the country early next week for Egypt.
The Sihlangu SeMnikati players have promised the nation that they will do their level best when they play against Egypt on the back-to back fixture. This team is made out of both the experience and youngster’s in as far as national team football is concerned. The national team captain, Tony Tsabedze highlighted that even though these are difficult fixtures; they are capable enough of making surprises as they have done it before. “We have played against big teams in Africa before and got positive results and we will try to do so even this time around even though this is a difficult fixture but we have to learn from such games”; the skipper said.
His words were echoed by Sizolwethu “Nunu” Shabalala who stated that the real business will be done in the field of play. “The Egyptians are world stars, but that holds no water as the real business will be done in the field of play”; Shabalala said. This youngster is steadily maturing like wine as he has demonstrated at club level together with his team mate Richard Mccresh who got his maiden cap recently against Tunisia. “It is good that the national team coaches have recognized us as youngsters which is good that my effort at club level have been recognized”; Shabalala said.
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