By NOMALUNGELO PHIRI | 2020-09-28

SOCCER – ESWATINI could soon benefit from the new rule set by FIFA, which allows foreign players who ply their trade in another country to switch their nationality, thus being eligible to play for the local national team.

 

Locally-based foreign players have since pledged their willingness to play for Sihlangu Semnikati following the introduction of the new rule.

 

This comes shortly after the approval of the new Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) rule, which was endorsed during the recent FIFA Congress held two weeks ago.

 

Manzini Wanderers Ghanaian forward Johnson Mensah believes they can do well and bring change to the nation’s pride.

 

“I can honour the Eswatini national team’s call-up and I am thrilled to learn about the new rule and regulations for national teams," he said.

 

Newly- signed Mbabane Swallows player Kingsley Kwakyi said he could also play for Sihlangu if given a chance.

 

“I do not promise anything for now, but if given a chance I can do the best for the Eswatini national team,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, Mbabane Swallows' Kingu Pemba said he cannot represent another country apart from his native Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

 

"I can only play for my home country. My wish is to always represent my country of birth at international assignments, ” he stressed.

 

When contacted, Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Communications and Marketing Officer Muzi Radebe said they were still waiting for formal correspondence from FIFA about the recent developments.

 

"The proposal revealed that we cannot just allow any foreign player to be part of the squad since there are conditions that each player should meet before being considered for a call-up.

 

I cannot comment much on it since we are still waiting for it to be approved," he said.  It has been revealed that the world football mother body has allowed foreign players to switch their nationality, thus making them eligible to represent another national team with a planned rule- change.

 

The rule allows players to make a citizenship switch if they have already played a maximum of three games for their native national team, including qualifying games before they turned 21, and at least three years earlier.

 

The new rule will take effect next month if the 211 national federations approve it during a meeting, that FIFA is hosting online from Zurich.

 

A FIFA working group has tried for more than two years to shape the new rule.

 

This will bar nationality switches for anyone who played at a ‘final tournament of the FIFA World Cup or a final tournament of a confederation competition.

 

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