By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – The National Team, Sihlangu will have to do without South Africa’s
Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Richards Bay’s Justice Figuareido.
The international player will be engaged in South Africa’s PSL play-offs set to kick-off on Saturday until June 19. The Natal Rich Boyz, as Richards Bay is affectionately known, reached the play-offs after finishing on the 15th spot in the DStv Premiership and booking a spot in the play-offs.
They will be up against AmaTuks and Baroka FC, who finished second and third, respectively in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. The winner of the group in the play-offs will then be promoted to the DStv Premiership.
The former Denver Sundowns player is among the 26 players that were called by the interim national team, Sihlangu Coach Dominic Kunene to report for camp. Sihlangu is in preparations of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers matches against Angola and Mauritius on June 7 and 11 respectively.
Other international players who are expected to join the squad already in camp are Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy’s Mxolisi Mkhontfo and Zambia’s Zesco United’s Lindo Mkhontfo.
Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Communications and Marketing Officer Muzi Radebe said nothing has been finalised but what he knew was that it was FIFA week and players had to be released to join their respective national teams.
Richards Bay begins their campaign against AmaTuks on Wednesday (June 5) and their second match is against Baroka three days later. The play-offs are played in a home and away format, with their last match on June 19 against Baroka.
