It’s about survival, title for United, Leopard

Ezulwini United vs. Royal Leopard Venue: Prince of Wales Ground Kick-off: 2:30pm Young Buffaloes vs Green Mamba Venue: King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium Kick-off: 3pm

THERE have been three consecutive defeats in the league for minnows Ezulwini United from last season at the hands of police outfit, Royal Leopard.

Fast forward to now, survival is an issue for United - nothing but a win will be a good result for their fight.

United are in the relegation quagmire along with a few other sides, they will want to cause an upset in a bid to save themselves from another relegation within a short space.

The Ezulwini-based team, formerly Tinyosi, have 17 points from 20 games, and they are two points clear of the relegation zone on position 13.

They are level with another hub side, Manzini Wanderers, who are placed on position 11.

A win will be a relief for United and a motivation to keep fighting on. What makes it difficult, though, is that Leopard are also in desperate need of the full points as the top spot beckons today.

Leopard wins here, they will leaders Young Buffaloes and champions Green Mamba share just hope defending the spoils while a draw or defeat for Mbabane Swallows also ensures their summit return.

The police side, Leopard, have dominated this fixture as they won it in both rounds last season. Leopard further won 1-0 in the reverse fixture this season, and that was last

September.

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THERE is no sitting back for Swallows after missing out on the CAF Confederation Cup 2024/2025 ticket.

This follows the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Green Mamba in last Sunday’s Ingwenyama Cup final, also losing the E1.4million champions cheque.

Swallows had won the tournament three consecutive times in 2016, 2017, and 2018 before settling for the E530 000 runners-up prize.

Worth mentioning is that this was the second failure this season for the Beautiful Birds in a final against Inyok’eluhlazana, also affectionately known as Mabon’abulawe (Green Mamba) as they met in the Trade Fair Cup final.

The red and white glamour side were ambushed 7-0 and, also 4-1 in the league first round - call it pure dominance by the Ernest Mavuso-coached Green Mamba over the red and white capital city giants.

League leaders Young Buffaloes and this year’s champions won the 2019 and 2020 editions before the knockout was stopped due to covid-19, only making a return in the outgoing 2023/24 season.

Can the

Birds of redeem themselves and win the league, fulfil their President, Archbishop Bheki Lukhele’s mandate to qualify for Africa.

The CAF Champions League ticket is still up for grabs, but the competition for it is wide open for the top four teams. Swallows must complete a double over resilient minnows, Rangers today, or their title, and CAF chances will be dented. ‘Beautiful Mbabane’