By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – The National team, Sihlangu Coach Zdravko Logurusic said their focus is to continue winning despite being out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers.
The Croatian mentor has called up 22 players excluding international players for the AFCON Qualifiers remaining games against Guinea Bissau and Mali to be played on November 11 and 15 respectively. The 22 players will start camp in preparations of the games on Sunday at the Lobamba Technical Centre after the MTN Premier League games.
The squad includes Mbabane Swallows Kwakhe Thwala who was dropped from the team that played Zimbabwe in the CHAN Qualifiers. He dropped Moneni Pirates Lindani ‘Rio’ Matsenjwa and Young Buffaloes Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze from the squad that won 4-0 on aggregate against Zimbabwe.
Logurusic said they will not take the games for granted but they will be all out to win and create a positive mind in the squad ahead of the crucial CHAN second round qualifiers matches against Madagascar set for late December.
“It is important that we keep on a winning mentality in the squad. We are using these two games in preparations of the crucial match against Madagascar and for us to get good preparations we need to go all out to win the remaining games,” he said.
The squad is dominated by Young Buffaloes that have five players in the team being goalkeeper Mlungisi Nxumalo, Sibonelo Sibandze, Fanelo ‘Order’ Mamba, Siboniso Ngwenya and Bongwa Matsebula. Green Mamba also had five players in goalkeeper Colani Gama, Sibongakonkhe Silenge, Njabulo Thwala, Mxolisi Manana and Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa while Royal Leopard players are Simanga Masangane, Gift Gamedze, Sifiso Matse and Junior Magagula.
There are three players from Manzini Sea Birds being Ndumiso Ndaba, Mpendulo Tfomo and Mthokozisi Gwebu while two players from Nsingizini Hotspurs are Neliswa Dlamini and Thubelihle Mavuso.
Completing the squad is Mbabane Highlanders Philani Mkhontfo and Mbabane Swallows Bongi Magagula.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers: Colani Gama (Green Mamba) and Mlungisi Nxumalo (Young Buffaloes)
Defenders: Sibongakonkhe Silenge, Mxolisi Manana (Green Mamba), Gift Gamedze Simanga Masangane (Royal Leopard), Ndumiso Ndaba (Manzini Sea Birds) and Sibonelo Sibandze, Siboniso Ngwenya (Young Buffaloes).
Midfielders: Kwakhe Thwala (Mbabane Swallows), Sifiso Matse, Junior Magagula (Royal Leopard), Mpendulo Tfomo (Manzini Sea Birds), Njabulo Thwala (Green Mamba) Philani Mkhontfo (Mbabane Highlanders), Bongi Magagula (Mbabane Swallows), Thubelihle Mavuso (Nsingizini Hotspurs), Fanelo ‘Order’ Mamba, Bongwa Matsebula.
Strikers: Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa (Green Mamba), Neliswa Dlamini (Nsingizini Hotspurs), Mthokozisi Gwebu (Manzini Sea Birds),
