Sihlangu wows Durban
Gday dear reader and let’s share the football spirit and our pride. The senior national team Sihlangu Semnikati is currently in Durban competing in the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup 2022. Even though the national team is no longer in the main competition but competing in the Plate of the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup 2022, Sihlangu has wowed Durban.
The national team was on the summit of Group B in the competition, which guaranteed Eswatini a slot in the quarterfinals with Malawi, Lesotho and Mauritius having to exit this year’s edition of the COSAFA Cup at the group stage. This success was due to the hard work of the technical team and the players. The ‘never say die’ spirit against Malawi did the trick and also sent a stern warning to Lesotho. Sihlangu players were oozing with confidence ahead of the Lesotho match. Everyone in camp was looking forward to a victory over Lesotho.
The qualification to the knock out stage was not a stroll in the park considering that Malawi was one of the participants of the TOTALEnergies AFCON 2021, of which on paper they were expected by a majority to advance to the next round. The Malawi comeback brings back the memories of the TOTALEnergies AFCON Qualifier 2023 match between Togo and Sihlangu, where the latter twice came from behind in Lome to force a 2-2 draw after the national team scored two beautiful goals. Matches are not won nor lost on paper but in the field of play.
OOD FANS
Even though Sihlangu is playing on foreign soil, the national team is very much popular with the local crowd. The fans know the players by name and they love the brand of football that Sihlangu is displaying. Durban is abuzz in as far as Sihlangu is concerned.
The players are stars here in Durban. Even now they can’t believe that Eswatini couldn’t qualify for the semifinals of the competition. Indeed, Sihlangu is making waves just like the Indian Ocean. Credit to the technical team and the players. This demonstrates that with maximum support from relevant stakeholders, the national team can achieve positive results even against the so-called big national teams in the COSAFA region and the African continent at large.
FUTURE
The future is bright in as far as the national team is concerned. The youngsters who were introduced in the squad have settled very well. Again, a job well done to the technical team for not only calling these players for camp but giving them some game time. I hope the critics are not as loud like they were when the coach was naming the players for camp.
What the technical team is trying to do is to have some tangibility. It’s not like criticism shouldn’t be given; but it must be constructive and not destroy the players, as after all they are playing for the national team not their individual teams or themselves. The youngsters who are part of the national team have contributed a lot in as far as the performance of Sihlangu in the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup 2022 is concerned and one hopes they will continue working hard. It was very much unfortunate for the national team to be knocked-out in the main competition of this year’s Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup edition after creating numerous goal scoring opportunities.
Yes, Sihlangu was punished for not utilising those opportunities, but what is key is to take the positives from that match and focus on the future. It is not the end of the world for Sihlangu. As I was developing this column, the national team was preparing for the match against Botswana in the Plate semifinal of the COSAFA Cup. If the national team win’s this fixture, Sihlangu will play in the Plate Finals tomorrow against South Africa or Madagascar. All is not lost as what is also key, is for the players to learn from this competition. A successful team wins as a team and also loses matches as a team, which is part of the spirit in Sihlangu camp.
Till next week, football for all and safe life for all. #Stop gender-based violence and child abuse.