ZESCO United defender Lindo Mkhonta has responded to his call-up to the Eswatini national side for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which take place next month.
Eswatini is in Group D and will face Angola on June 7 and Mauritius on June 11, 2024.
The 33-year-old defender has become an integral member of the ZESCO United squad that has secured qualification for next season’s Caf Confederations Cup after thrashing Trident 5-1 in a match he started.
He is expected to add experience to the Eswatini side, which has lost its first two games against Libya and Cape Verde.
Mkhonta expressed his delight at being included in the preliminary team.
“The feeling that I have is a good one—to be one of the players selected for the national team,” he stated. “It is every player’s mission to go and play for the national team. I’m feeling happy to go and represent my country.”
He has attributed his call-up to hard work at the Ndola side. He said that he has gained more experience playing in the Zambian Super League.
“There are a lot of expectations since I’m playing here in Zambia. Even the other players on that side are going to learn from me…… So I have to put in more effort, and it also shows that I’m working very hard for the team.
“The fans can expect a lot from me; I have learned a lot on this team (ZESCO),” he concluded.
Mkhonta played Eswatini’s first two matches in the World qualifiers. They are at the bottom of the group and searching for their first points.
The Eswatini international is in his second season at ZESCO United.
