Swazi Observer

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â€˜MAKE ATMOSPHERE HOSTILEâ€™

By Sabelo Gwebu | 2018-10-16

SOCCER – SIHLANGU captain Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze has pleaded with the nation to make life difficult for visiting Egypt this afternoon.

He says the intimidation that visitors get in Sihlangu home matches is nothing to what they receive away. Sihlangu host ‘The Pharaohs’ as the Egyptian national team is fondly called this afternoon in a must win match at Mavuso Sports Centre in a 3pm kick-off.

“We can only ask for fans to make the environment hostile for the visitors. The intimidation in our home games is different or nothing to what we receive in away matches.

As players we wish to win this game and football being a game of surprises, we can get positive results,” Tsabedze said.

Tsabedze is expected to lead his national teammates out of the Mavuso Sports Centre tunnel this afternoon knowing chances of qualification for a first ever place in the AFCON finals are hanging by a thread with three games remaining.

Acceptance is regarded as the best thing for one to move on without any hindrance in life.

That can be true of Sihlangu head coach Anthony Mdluli who has been the first to accept that this afternoon 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier opponents Egypt will once again prove a difficult team to beat.

tactical

Egypt beat Sihlangu 4-1 last Friday night away in Cairo and Mdluli expects the same tactical and physical ‘Pharaohs’.

Speaking in his pre-match press briefing yesterday morning at the Mavuso Sports Centre, Mdluli decided to give more of a review of the first leg match more than what Emaswati can expect this afternoon.

The only positive in his three or so minutes address, was that his squad returned from Egypt with no major injuries and of course, the recovery of attacker Mthunzi ‘Xavi’ Mkhontfo and hard tackling midfielder Siboniso ‘Gaxa’ Ngwenya, who are back in contention for a starting place after missing the trip to Cairo due to injuries. “Egypt was good tactically and physically. The environment was intimidating for some players who were playing in such conditions for the first time but settled as the game progressed.

Egypt are a strong side and it will be difficult again for us tomorrow (today).

They play like true professionals,” Mdluli told journalists.

Mdluli said his technically team has closely studied the first leg victory and would correct mistakes going to this clash which he highlighted was giving the opposition spaces bad communication in some departments. The former Sitsebe SaMhlekazi head coach pleaded for the support of the nation as he could see progress and improvement in his charges.

“Playing at home does not change Egypt’s quality but we will try to surge forward and bury chances that come our way.

The exposure or lack of it thereof of players in this stage plays a big role as we noticed in the first leg. Unfortunately when we finally regrouped and the nerves were calm, the score was big,” he said.

Sihlangu are desperate for a win in this clash to remain in contention for a place in next year’s AFCON finals to be staged in Cameroon.

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