Africa-Press – Eswatini. “Your coach is one we are looking to work with at national team level.”
These were the words of Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Vice President Steve Horton when addressing the country’s 2023/24 TotalEnergies Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League envoys Green Mamba at the EFA Technical Centre yesterday. Horton was speaking on behalf of the President Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane, as he bid the 2022/23 MTN Premier League champions farewell ahead of the first leg preliminary round match on Sunday. Inyoka Eluhlazane are playing Mozambique champions Uniao Desportiva do Songo.
The vice-president said they were hopeful that the local champions would represent the country well in the continental inter-club competition, as they had a good Coach in Ernest Mavuso. He described the latter as one for the future in the country’s football.“We are hopeful that that you will hoist the country’s flag high in Mozambique, as you have an upcoming coach, who we as EFA are looking up to working with at national teams in the future,” Horton said. He said as the mother body of local football they were not worried as the green and white outfit would bring back positive results as they paraded a galaxy of stars with international experience, gained from playing in the national team Sihlangu.
Difficult
“We are really proud of Green Mamba for representing the country in Africa as you know that the other team pulled out. It’s difficult to play in this tournament due to the shortage of stadiums in the country. Go and make us proud,” he said. He went on to say that as soon as the situation was back to normal, the country would have a stadium which meets the CAF requirements. The country’s two main football arenas, the Somhlolo National Stadium and the Mavuso Sports Centre were banned by CAF to host category A matches in 2018. This has forced both Sihlangu and CAF representatives to seek alternative venues outside the country.
Meanwhile, CAF gave Mbabane Highlanders and Royal Leopard temporary licences to use the Somhlolo National Stadium and the Mavuso Sports Centre respectively for CAF games last year. The Mavuso-coached side left the country yesterday with Manzini Regional Football Association (MRFA) Chairperson Vusi Hall as the Head of Delegation alongside 23 players including former Highlanders defender Peter Dlamini and Mxolisi ‘Kudus’ Mkhonto, who is set to join South Africa’s DStv Premiership side Royal AM.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
