Africa-Press – Eswatini. Bafana Bafana Coach Morena Ramoreboli says he and his technical team are plotting a ‘Gung-ho’ approach in their final group stage match against Sihlangu today.
‘Gung-ho’ is a slang word meaning extremely or overly zealous or enthusiastic.
The neighbours will renew their rivalry at the Princess Magogo Stadium tonight at 6pm.
The hosts head into this encounter as the group leaders with four points, followed by Botswana and Dominic Kunene’s troops, who are both level on three points.
Namibia props the table with a solitary point to show for their efforts so far.
ensure
A victory for Bafana would ensure their advancement to the semi-finals, while a draw could be enough if Namibia beat Botswana in the other game of the day.
However, Ramoreboli, when addressing the media ahead of the fixture yesterday, felt if his side managed anything short of a victory, it would hamper their mentality for the rest of the tournament, while leaving their fate up to other results.
“I think for us it’s to play for all three points; now it’s (the group) in our hands; we don’t have to worry about how they play in this or the last match, so we need to get maximum points if we want to win the tournament,” said Ramoreboli.
“If we start thinking about playing for a draw then that means we are losing or dropping the level we have set for ourselves, so I think it’s going to be very important for us to build momentum and get the three points in the next match.
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relish
Bafana will relish the opportunity to face one of their favourite opponents in Sihangu, a side they have never lost to in the five times they have clashed.
The hosts have found the back of the net 16 times in the five games, their biggest victory being a 5-1 mauling they inflicted in the 2016 edition of the COSAFA.
Coach Ramoreboli, who led Bafana to gold in this tournament in 2021, has vowed to facilitate adequate planning and preparation, as his side look to reclaim the COSAFA crown for a sixth time.
“We are going to do our best to prepare properly for the match and make sure that we fight with everything that we have to get maximum points, which will see us qualify for the semi-finals and continue our journey towards delivering the mandate,” he explained.
Sihlangu Coach, Kunene, on the other hand, conceded that it would not be a stroll in the park but they were up to the challenge.
Meanwhile, the national team Sihlangu have been boosted by the return of striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa.
The Green Mamba star is counted among top strikers in the history of COSAFA with eight goals.
He had suffered a knee injury in the first game of the 2023 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup against Botswana, which Sihlangu lost 0-1.
upfront
Head Coach Kunene, when addressing the local media sports reporters after the squad’s training session yesterday, said the return of Ndzinisa would help them in terms of competition upfront.
“A club plays well when there is competition; once there is competition, every player ups his game,” the former Young Buffaloes gaffer said.
He also revealed that they were hopeful that first choice and assistant captain Ncamiso ‘Mbhonyo’ Dlamini would pass a late fitness ahead of the game against Bafana Bafana as the squad’s medical team assured them that it was not a severe injury.
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