Sihlanguaï¿½ï¿½s armoury exposed

Noel Munzabwa

THE two masterminds Kallisto Pasuwa of Zimbabwe and his Swaziland counterpart Harries Madze Bulunga have indeed played their cards close to their chests ahead of the six pointer back to back 2017 AFCON qualifiers.

While other nations are already analysing their aces, there seems to have been a deliberate ploy to delay announcing the Warriors and Sihlangu squads.

This indeed headlines how important the two Easter holidays ties are with none willing to give away any clue of expectations to their respective opponents.

It is no doubt Madze has been following our expected armour plying their super diski trade in the Absa Premier League, which has been inevitable to block away.

But one thing for sure the 10 000-plus Zimbabweans resident in this country donaï¿½ï¿½t expect the traumatising Toyota Quantums to ferryAï¿½ players into Swaziland like what happened with the Young Warriors last May.

Neither do they expect the Warriors head of delegation to go down on his knees begging the National Football Association of Swaziland for their luxury coach for the return trip to OR Tambo International Airport.

No offence meant on this one.

Nonetheless, fissures have emerged from the Sihlangu corridors that goes into their 10-day extensive training on Monday and Swazi Sport can confirm it will beAï¿½ only oneAï¿½ foreign based plus 21 locally based players.

Former Royal Leopard marauding striker, Mthunzi aï¿½?Xaviaï¿½? Mkhontfo, now team mate to our Mahindra, Oscar Machapa at DRCaï¿½ï¿½s AS Vita will be leading the front line.

Mkhontfo, a hit in last yearaï¿½ï¿½s Caf Confederations Cup with Leopard and scorer of the first goal in 2-2 draw against the Young Warriors last May, moved to DRC in January to become the only Swazi soccer talent current export.

The former Midas Mbabane City stocky player was a marvel to watch for the police force outfit against the DR Congo giants in both legs of the Caf Confederation, scoring the winning goal in the first leg at Somhlolo Stadium.

He was also in a class of his own in Kinshasa during the return match.

He is dangerous thataï¿½ï¿½s all we can say and Pasuwa has watched him twice while Saul Chaminuka has watched him thrice.

The former Royal Leopard forward will be among 22 players who are expected to start a full-time training camp about 10 days before the game.

The squadaï¿½ï¿½s head coach, Harries aï¿½?Madzeaï¿½? Bulunga, was due to submit his full list of players to the National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) .