‘Crooks’, ‘Nkomishi’ haunt ‘Birds’
MBABANE – Former Mbabane Swallows Coach Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe and goalkeeper Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza are set to haunt their former team this
weekend. Hlophe’s team, Manzini Wanderers, will go headtohead with Mbabane Swallows in what promises to be a blockbuster this weekend. The showdown is scheduled to take place at Mavuso Sports Centre on Sunday, with kick-off at 4pm.
Wanderers will be banking on Hlophe and Nkomishi’s inside knowledge of Swallows to gain an edge and potentially upset their former team.
Hlophe and his technical bench are highly motivated to secure a victory at all costs, as they are still in the danger zone of relegation and desperately need maximum points from all their remaining games. Even a draw is crucial for Hlophe and Head Coach Ikarbot Masocha.
Wanderers are eager to bounce back from their recent results, especially after their draw against Ezulwini United. With the memory of their impressive victory over the former league leaders, Green Mamba fresh in their minds, they are determined to replicate that success. The last time they emerged victorious was on January 16, when they secured a 1-0 win with a thunderous strike from their trusted, Captain Mlamuli ‘Mlaba’ Nkambule against Green Mamba.
The maroon and white side will be eager to overturn their 3-1 first-round defeat. As they shift their focus solely to the league, following their exit from the Ingwenyama Cup, Wanderers cannot afford to drop any more points if they hope to avoid relegation.
On the other hand, Umkhonta KaShaka, led by Head Coach Caleb Ngwenya, will be aiming to secure a double victory and close the gap between them and the league leaders, Royal Leopard.
While on paper, Swallows may appear to have an easy path to securing maximum points, football is unpredictable and anything can happen. Coach Masocha’s absence from the bench during their previous victory adds an extra layer of uncertainty to this encounter. It remains a tricky clash that could swing in either direction, setting the stage for an intriguing battle between the coaches.