‘Bull’ must end four-year Leopard jinx

TODAY

MBABANE

HIGHLANDERS

VS ROYAL LEOPARD

AT MAVUSO SPORTS

CENTRE, 2:30PM

ZULWINI

– There are many reasons that this fixture matters for Mbabane Highlanders, but the biggest one is that they have the opportunity to decide their own fate in as far as ending an over two decades wait to win the MTN Premier League. Also, Highlanders want to return to Africa where they put the country’s football in the world map back in their peak years while further ending a four-year winless streak against Royal Leopard in the league.

The last time Highlanders beat Leopard was in the 2019 Eswatini Telecom Charity Cup semifinal. It’s an interesting one here as it is a must-win for both, just as it was when they clashed in the first round to decide the E200 000 incentive winners.

ELAST HEAD-TO-HEAD: PREVIOUS MATCH RESULTS:

Leopard prevailed with an easy 2-0 victory to finish the first round at the summit.

Today it is Highlanders who need to turn the tables and dislodge Leopard from the top, but it certainly will not be easy.

Recent form favours Leopard as Highlanders have been tactically poor in most games and despite having managed to win, they were exposed by smaller teams like Tinyosi and Malanti Chiefs who dented their title aspirations with draws.

The latest 3-3 draw with Malanti in a replay match on Wednesday afternoon gives Leopard the edge over the Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala-coached Inkunz’emnyama.

Tactically, Leopard have the upper hand under Edwin Matsebula, while both teams have all the quality to win the tie.

Captains Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa for Highlanders and Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini for Leopard will have the big task to lead their teams here and without much doubt, one of the two teams will produce this season’s Best Player.

There are such influential stars like Junior Magagula, Lungelo Tsabedze (Leopard) and Kenneth ‘Mashaba’ Moloto as well as Philani Mkhontfo for Highlanders who can turn a game in a split second.

Last time the two teams met, Leopard won it in the midfield as ‘Sly’ played without any anchor man with both Xolani ‘Papi’ Sikhondze and Menzi Mamba unused, but ball players Lindo ‘Ntolo’ Fakudze and Banele ‘Stiga’ Ndzabandzaba struggling to create and win the ball from the troubling Junior and Lungelo.

Should Highlanders open up the midfield again then Leopard will walk over them but truth is, only after 90 or so minutes will it be clear. It is a game filled with so much quality, you do not want to miss it - it’s nothing short of a grand finale.