By Qondile Ntiwane | 2018-02-13

SOCCER - BANTU FC coach James Madidilani was full of praise for the Mbabane Swallows duo of Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst and Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze after the two sides’ clash in the CAF Champions League in Maseru on Sunday.

Swallows beat Bantu FC 4-2 in the first leg of the preliminary round played at the Setsoto Stadium with captain Tony TT’ Tsabedze (brace), Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko and Badenhorst scoring for the ‘Beautiful Birds’.

Speaking after the match, Bantu coach Madidilani said he had prepared his side for Tsabedze and Nhleko only to be surprised by Badenhorst and Sikhondze.

“I had told my players to be careful of Tony and Wonder because I knew how dangerous they are from their days in South Africa. However, the number seven (Badenhorst) and 11 (Sikhondze) really did all the damage to us today. Especially the number seven (Badenhorst), he was just brilliant. He is a special player. Both of them caused too many problems but Felix was just too smart for my players. They just failed to contain him hence they punished us,” he said.

Madidilani added that they were worried about the duo of Badenhorst and Sikhondze going into the second leg set to be played at Somhlolo National next week.

“Obviously, now we will be going into the second leg worried about them because we saw what they can do. It’s better that we know about them now so perhaps we can plan better,” the former Bloemfontein Celtic star said.

Madidilani said he was hopeful they would come back from the defeat.

“Yes we were playing an experienced team but it was our mistake that cost us this game. We will go all out in the second leg to turn the scales. It won’t be easy but we can come back,” he said.

If Swallows advance past the preliminary round, they will most probably face Zambia’s Zanaco FC in the first round. Zanaco beat Gambia’s Armed Forces 3-0 in the first leg of their own preliminary tie on Saturday.

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