Sihlangu coach Anthony Mdluli’s confidence levels are sky high following good preparations for the COSAFA Cup.

The Swaziland national side are fresh from a 1-0 win over Kenya in an international friendly at Kenyatta Stadium in Nairobi on Friday. Reacting to the result, Mdluli said it was all promising ahead of the COSAFA Cup quarter-final clash against Lesotho next Saturday.

Even though it was not an official match Mdluli saw light at the end of the tunnel after he recorded his second win as Sihlangu coach.

“We are pleased as the technical bench and players for the positive result. The players really worked hard for the victory. Kenya are very good. They play good football,” said Mdluli.

Mdluli said his troops remained tactically disciplined throughout the game.

“Defensively, we were well organised. We are pleased about that, as it is also an important part of the game,” he noted.

He said the match helped them spot their weak areas ahead of next Saturday’s clash with Lesotho’s ‘Likuena Likuena’. The annual tournament, which started on Sunday, is hosted by South Africa in Polokwane until June 9.

In all his three preparatory matches Mdluli, is celebrating an unbeaten run. His first match in charge was a goal-less draw with Seychelles. The next assignment was against visiting Namibia on April 19 and Swaziland won by a solitary goal. He is the first local coach to take the Swaziland side to the regional tournament after Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, who steered the team to a bronze medal in 2016.

In charge in the past year was Dutch coach Pieter de Dongh. The latter, who was assisted by Mdluli, was sacked early this year.

By Ashmond Nzima