MBABANE – The Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) acting CEO Zwelonke ‘Sport’ Dlamini has described the official national team, Sihlangu’s AFCON qualifier against Congo-Brazzaville on Saturday as USELESS.
The former NFAS Educational Officer blasted the national team, Sihlangu Management Committee over the confusion of the selection of players in preparation for the game. He said Sihlangu was bringing confusion within the PLS, as they now have to call off an MTN Premier League match.
The PLS called off the Moneni Pirates game against Green Mamba which was slated for Sunday at the Trade Fair Sports Ground after they discovered that the latter had more than two players in the squad.
He said the Sihlangu MC failed to communicate with them that Ntobeko Mthimkhulu was now playing for Green Mamba, as at the time they requested him he was still playing for Hellenic.
He wondered why Sihlangu’s technical bench headed by Obed ‘Foreman’ Mlotsa were selecting players four days before the AFCON 2012 Qualifiers to be played on Saturday at the Mavuso Sports Centre. He said this was never going to work for the squad.
“Now we have called off the game between Moneni Pirates and Green Mamba after discovering that they had more than two players in the squad. It does not make sense to select a player after one good performance. They have to plan for a consistent selection. They may select a pool of at least 30 players and work with them, not to call players at any time as we as the PLS have our own plans with the teams where the players belong,” he said.
Dlamini was referring to the call up of Green Mamba’s striker Civil Matsebula after his good performance on Sunday against Royal Leopard where he scored a brace. Manzini Wanderers goalkeeper Basil Mthethwa also received a call up on Monday.
He said they were not made aware that Ntobeko Mthimkhulu who was requested while at his former team Hellenic had joined Green Mamba. He said they were respecting the rules that any team with more than two players in the squad should not play an official game.
“The Sihlangu game is of no importance as they are just finishing their fixture. They were knocked out of the qualifiers a long time ago,” he said.
Sihlangu is rooted at the bottom of the log without a point in Group I. Leading the group is Ghana with 13 points and Sudan is second with the same number of points. Sihlangu’s win on Saturday means nothing but the team is now using the game as preparations for the World Cup 2014 Qualifiers game against DRC Congo. The game will be played in November.
Efforts to get a comment from FA CEO, Frederick Mngomezulu proved futile last night.
Source: Times of Swaziland
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