‘Bull’ for kingmakers, ‘Weslians’, ‘Downs’ axe fate
. . . Master fixture shows capital city giants have three title-chasing rivals and relegation-threatened Wanderers; Sundowns left to play
CAPITAL city giants Mbabane Highlanders appear to be at the centre of this season’s MTN Premier League championship and relegation races.
The black and white ensemble, also mathematically in the title run-in as they are only eight points behind leaders Mbabane Swallows who have 40 points, have the ‘kingmakers’ credentials if the master fixture is anything to go by.
Furthermore, Inkunz’emnyama, as Highlanders are also fondly known, may be very key to the survival and non-survival of either Manzini Wanderers or Denver Sundowns.
The latter two occupy the two relegation spots now, Wanderers are in position 13, and Sundowns are in the basement (14th) with two points standing between them.
Wanderers have 17 points, level with another hub team in the same relegation quagmire, Moneni Pirates just above them, while Sundowns have 15 with five games to go. Both Wanderers and Sundowns still must play Highlanders in their survival bids before they end the season with a head-tohead clash.
Recent head-to-head results with Inkunz’emnyama seem to show they may have to dig deeper into their reserves to get any positive.
Just last season, both Wanderers and Sundowns could not beat Highlanders. It has been the same again this season.
Wanderers lost 2-0 and 3-0 respectively to Highlanders last season, while for Sundowns, it was a goalless draw and a 2-0 defeat.
In the first round of the current season, Sundowns lost 0-2 while Wanderers played 0-0.
“The dark horses are Nsingizini who have joined the race. The problem with Highlanders is that they are not stable and they are also lacking goals.It’s true, though, that they may be a factor as they may have nothing to lose,” responded for Wanderers and once senior national team Sihlangu assistant coach, Velekhaya Mtsetfwa when randomly asked about his thoughts on the title race and the chances of his former club cheating the axe.
Mtsetfwa said with Highlanders having these fixtures, they needed to be consistent of they hoped for anything.
Influencers
He observed the lack of goals could prove their letdown. Otherwise, they could be influencers both at the top and bottom of the standings in as far as who wins league and who gets relegated with three bog sides from Manzini under threat.
The third side is Moneni Pirates who just had a bit of relief last Friday after their second win of the season to get out off the basement to the 12th spot but are level on 17 points with Wanderers.
Other threatened clubs are 10th-placed Manzini Sea Birds (23 points), Rangers in 10th with 20 points, and Ezulwini United, who are in the 11th spot on 18 points.
“Nsingizini is just on the outside looking in. They have already beaten Leopard and Buffaloes and yet to play Green Mamba,” Mtsetfwa said.
He also said that the title run-in was still wide open, but Green Mamba appeared to be peaking at just the right time after beating Buffaloes.
He said Green Mamba were motivated too by the Ingwenyama Cup success.
For Swallows, his observation was that after missing out on three Cup finals, they will go all out to try and bag the league title.
“The interesting part is those in the race are still to play each other in what can be said to be six-pointer games. Green Mamba may have the edge as the cup win may boost their confidence level. Their recent win against Buffaloes gives them an advantage as and for the latter to bounce back, they need to win against the other competing teams. Swallows are lacking a striker to be assured of goals. That is the only thing that may cost Swallows. They need a constant supply of goals,”he said.
Mtsetfwa also did not rule out Royal Leopard winning it, saying ‘the game against Green Mamba will be a do or die for them.