PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Mb. Swallows vs Royal Leopard Venue: KaLanga EFA Technical
Centre
Kickoff: 2: 45pm
BABANE – What a tie!
This one has all the ingredients of a thriller - talk about quality players, big names, match winners and determined officials you get it all from these two teams.
The rivalry has gone on for some time now as both sides have had their best of times and records in the MTN Premier League. Swallows were invincibles not so long ago while Leopard were quadruple champions in one season while also winning back to back league titles.
The ultimate goal is not just the title but the ticket to play in Total CAF ( Conf e d e r a t i o n o f Afr i c a n Football) Champions League - both sides want that but with six games remaining and Leopard 10 points ahead of third- placed Swallows, it favours the log leaders to go all the way and win the league – only the champs go to Africa.
MONLY UNBEATEN SIDE
Leopard remain the only unbeaten side after 24 matches and are six points clear of second- placed Young Buffaloes, who are also four points ahead of Swallows but t he l at t er has a game in hand against Moneni Pirates.
This could decide the title’s destiny especially if Leopard go on and win the tie. It will not matter much how Buffaloes play as even a win for the army side will not change the six- point gap while it will take something special for Leopard t o drop points now to the point they give away the title.
Both sides are in good form - Swallows have their Captain marvel in Tony ‘ TT’ Tsabedze, who continues to lead by example. He has inspired
Tony ‘ TT’ Tsabedze ( Swallows Captain and winger)
Nj a b u l o ‘ D4 D’ Nd l o v u midfielder)
Junior Magagula ( Leopard midfielder) Muzi ‘ Mzoro’ Dlamini ( Leopard Captain and forward) ( S wa l l o ws
t hei r pr e vi ous t wo wins wit h f i ve goals, first a hattrick in the 40 rout of Milling Hot Spurs and then a brace in the midweek 3- 2 win against Green Mamba in this very venue, which certainly feels like home for the red and white outfit their slain boss Victor Gamedze rests at KaLanga and also influenced this project while still the Eswatini Football Association ( EFA) vice president.
DEVASTATING FORM
While Tony is in devastating form for Swallows, Leopard have midfielder Junior Magagula, the twins Fanelo and Lungelo Tsabedze as well as captain Muzi ‘ Mzoro’ Dlamini in good form while veteran midfielder Zweli ‘ Mlilo’ Nxumalo has become a super substitute as he has more than once come off the bench to score and influence the final result.
H e d i d i t a g a i n s t Ma n z i n i S e a B i r d s i n t h e mi d w e e k f i x t u r e a s t hey came from behind t o win 2- 1. With revenge also brewing here - remember the first round fixture was a circus and big blow for Swallows, who travelled to Nhlangano only to discover they did not bring their players’ cards. That warranted abandonment and match forfeiture. Swallows want to avenge that off the field 30 defeat which certainly adds to the six- point advantage.
It’s a very interesting tie and a potential title decider. Can Swallows put a stop to Leopard’s blazing trail run? It won’t be long before we all know it, come noon.