Mixed predictions in Ingwenyama Cup biggest derby Eswatini drops three places down in netball charts
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MBABANE
– Who will make it through to finals?
The much anticipated derby match is already here, a derby that attracts thousands of spectators who travel form all regions of the country to witness the powerful football displayed by Eswatini football giants. Soccer supporters have made some predictions as to how the match will go and who will move on to the finals.
HERE IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY:
Tenele Mhlanga (Swallows) We have our very own experienced “This will be one of the toughest goalie Sandanezwe, who will take us derbies but I still believe through with the likes of Gadlela, Nunu, that the birds will go through and Siyabonga.” to the finals. Since it’s going to be a tricky one Mbabane Swallows will win 1-0 against Highlanders. The players I am looking upon are the likes of Siyabonga Zwane, Kingsely Kwayki, Sizolwethu
Shabalala and Kwakhe Thwala.”
Justice Dvuba (Swallows) We will overcome Mbabane Highlanders no matter what. The final score will be 3-0. I put my trust on our goal keeper Sandanezwe Mathabela, our Head Coach Caleb Ngwenya, Kingsely Kwayki, Kwakhe and Gadlela.
Nomkhosi Mdluli (Swallows) “We do not need to debate about this one; it is so obvious that Umkhonto kaShaka will win the semi-finals. Since the game will not be a friendly one maybe the score will be 2-0. Highlanders are not strong enough we will easily flush them down the drain. I have my machine Ayanda Gadlela, Siyabonga and Tiger who will take us through to the next round.”
Bon’sile Nyawo and Mcebo Sodumase (Swallows) “This is a derby not a knock out, Highlanders is too weak for this one.
John Nkambule (Swallows) “We will definitely win this one; we have our stars Kwakhe, Gadlela and Siyabonga. I feel sorry for our neighbours even if they can go to Pretoria like they always do we will make it through to the finals.”
Phephile ‘Lulu’ Skhondze (Highlanders)
This derby will be one to be remembered and I trust that Highlanders will bring us happiness. Looking at how the past derbies have been, I think the game will go to penalties, a match between Swallows and Highlanders has never been easy, but I put my trust in Highlanders they will not disappoint us. I’m looking forward to watching players like Pupu, Philani, Moloto and Menzi, not forgetting goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe. All I can say to our favourable players is that they my focus and never panic.
Siboniso Maseko (Highlanders) “We will beat Swallows tomorrow if our Head Coach puts the key players in the starting 11, that is all we want. If he cannot waste time and put the likes of Pupu, Philani, Moloto then we are set. Otherwise I wish all our players a good game, may they bring us happiness this weekend and score at least two or three goals.”
MBABANE – The nation has plummeted in the global netball rankings. The country is now ranked number 40 out of 46. It is their worst ranking since breaking into the charts in 2022. According to rankings that were published in September last year, the kingdom previously held position 29. Countries were rated based on games played up until March 1 of the current year, according to World Netball (WN) most recent standings.
Eswatini last competed in the Netball Cup, Africa’s premier competition, which was held in Gaborone, Botswana more than two months ago. The country was awarded a wooden spoon having not won even a single match in these competitions.
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Based on the charts, Australia is the world’s best netball team. Africa’s best, South Africa maintained fifth position. A nation must participate in at least eight international test matches during the rating period in order to be ranked.
Meanwhile, a team would still have a rating but no ranking if they had played fewer matches than the required number, as per information obtained from the World Netball website.
The team has to have faced a rated team in at least two games in order to be ranked. Since its launch in 2007, the WN Board has conducted frequent reviews of the World Rankings methodolo
SOME ESWATINI NETBALL RANKINGS SINCE 2022: November 2022 29 September 2023 29 April 2023 28 December 2023 37 June 2023 29 March 2024 40
gy to guarantee that it continues to be a strong and trustworthy ranking system that offers a reliable indicator of the calibre and stature of international teams’ performances, as well as the reliability of this method when it comes to qualification. In international events, rankings are also used to determine a team’s seeding. The highest-ranked teams advance automatically to the semi-finals, skipping the elimination round.
Speaking to this publication yesterday Eswatini National Team Coach Nhlanhla ‘Friction’ Mayisela said rankings were influenced by a number of factors.
“These include the number of games played and performance of each team. However, if the number of tournaments Eswatini participates in increases then rankings should improve,” Mayisela said.