Young Buffaloes this week began their preparations for their CAF Confederation’s game against Tunisia’s Etoile de Sahel. The game will be played on Sunday at Mavuso Sports Centre. Kick off time is 3pm.
Amathole resumed training this week following a group training ban emphasized by Eswatini Football Association since government announced the first 2 weeks partial lockdown on January 08. Government last week approved Amathole’s request to return training for their CAF assignment as local football is still on ice.
ONE YEAR NEW CONTRACT FOR SIHLANGU COACH
This week Eswatini Football Association renewed senior national team, Sihlangu Semnikati coach Dominic Kunene’s contract. Anthony Mdluli who has been the goalkeeper coach has been promoted to be an assistant coach following the demise of Gcina Magiyane Dlamini due to COVID 19 who was Kunene’s assistant.
Mbabane Highlanders ‘ legend Sipho Dube has been roped into the technical team as a goalkeeper coach. This new technical team amongst other assignments will guide the already eliminated Sihlangu Semnikati in 2022 Africa Cup Qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau on 26th March and Senegal on March 30 this year.
EFA hands E540 000 TO PLE
Eswatini Football Association has handed over about E540 000 to the Premier League of Eswatini. This money is expected to help teams deal with COVID 19.
This money is said to be part of the money released by FIFA last year to help struggling leagues. EFA is said to have received E16.5M and US$500 000 monetary injection of which the later goes towards women football.
MBABANE HIGHLANDERS BUYS EX-MBABANE SWALLOWS SPRINTER
Chief Ally Kgomongwe, Highlanders boss was the highest bidder on Tuesday during the auction sale of former Mbabane Swallows Mercedes Benz 22-seater Sprinter which was repossessed by Eswatini Bank. The sprinter which was owned by the late Mbabane Swallows boss Victor Gamedze was repatriated by the bank allegedly due to breach of purchase contract.
The sprinter was sold at a reserve price of E270 000 and Ally bided E355 000 bieng the highest bidder. Worth noting is that the incumbent Mbabane Swallows boss Bheki Lukhele also bided the sprinter at the auction sale where he came short of Ally with E5 000 bidding E350 000.
BIG GUNS CRASH OUT OF NEDBANK CUP
The NEDBANK Cup Last 32 which was played this week saw South Africa’s giant teams kissing the dust in the tournament. Today, Kaizer Chiefs bowed out of the tournament to second placed National First Division Richards Bay FC with 1-2.
Yesterday, Cape Town City cruised through Bloemfontein Celtics with a 4-0 while on Friday, TTM knocked out Supersport United with a solitary goal. Other DSTV Premiership teams that have crashed out include Golden Arrows, Stellenbosch.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City is ten points clear from league holders Liverpool FC after thrashing Liverpool 4-1 today at Anfiled Stadium. City is at the summit of the log with a game in hand with 5 points clear from strong contenders Manchester United. In 22 games, Manchester City has 50 points while Manchester United has 45 points in 23 games. Third placed is Leicester City with 43 points and Liverpool with 40 points at position 4.
LA LIGA
There was little action over this weekend with more games playing as the week progresses. Yesterday, Athletic Club and Valencia played a 1-1 draw and Osasuma beats Eibar 2-1. By the time compiling this report, Real Betis was leading Barcelona with a solitary goal.
La Liga log table is interesting indeed with league dull horses Atletico Madrid are at the summit with 50 points in 19 games. Real Madrid is second placed with 43 points in 21 games and Sevilla is third phlaced with 42 points in same number of games. Barcelona completes the top four bracket with 41 points while trailing behind in their 22nd game of the league.
Soccer Channel Eswatini 