Africa-Press – Eswatini. “IF you are looking for endurance throughout the game, they will keep you on your toes for the whole game, they will butter you.”
This was advice shared by Eswatini legend William ‘Cool Cat’ Shongwe on what South Africa’s national team Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos should expect when they take on Sihlangu Semnikati in an international friendly match at the FNB Stadium in South Africa on Friday.
The SA side has also lined up Ivory Cost for the series of friendly games
Interviewed by South African publication Kick-Off on whether Sihlangu would provide Bafana Bafana with the much needed test, Shongwe said it all depended on what Broos was looking to gain from his opponents.
“You know sometimes coaches choose games for certain reasons. People are focusing on the Africa Cup of Nations finals because they are so close.
“If you want to prepare certain patterns for a competition, you need to play against teams where there is going to be less pressure. You are doing that so that your players can manoeuvre and get used to certain movements. For me I can say it’s from that point of view,” Shongwe was quoted saying.
He stated that the Eswatini side was very physical, adding that they might not be that technical but were very fit.
The former Sihlangu goalkeeper added that local coaches usually picked the players from the security forces teams, which meant they were fully professional and well trained.
bumped
“If you are looking for a physical opponent, you will get all that from Eswatini. You will be bumped up, you will be roughed up for the whole 90 minutes.
“They don’t create many opportunities but they run you down over the 90 minutes.”
SA players Monnapule Saleng and Percy Tau have been withdrawn for the squad.
Sihlangu coach Dominic Kunene said they would prepare well for the match.
“The players are responding well in training and are ready for the match,” Kunene said.
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