‘Bull’ in ‘cliffhanger’ match against Green Mamba
MBABANE – A bitter rivalry that looks set to feel like salt added to an injury, come Sunday.
It’s become almost impossible to type the word giants without the use of fallen behind it when referring to one of the country’s biggest and oldest teams - Manzini Wanderers. Life has been no bed of roses for this team just like it wasn’t for a long time for England’s invincible, Arsenal.
The latter however, are in their best form in a long time in the English Premier League (EPL) as they sit on pole position, contrary to Eswatini’s famed maroon and white LiWeseli as the hub giants are fondly known.
Wanderers have not tasted any major title for a long time. Instead of challenging for the MTN Premier League title they won consecutively when the league started under the mobile giant company banner, they are fighting to survive relegation. It is not looking good as yet, another history on local football looks set to be made.
HISTORICALLY RELEGATED
Not many years ago, currently competing capital city giants, Mbabane Highlanders were historically relegated to the National First Division (NFD), but were too good there that they returned to the elite league and later survived a second chop as clubs were increased in the elite league.
What makes it tough for Wanderers right now is the lack of financial muscle. They have lost major stars to their giant rivals today in on form Mbabane Swallows and Mbabane Highlanders, as well as to Tambuti while others are reportedly skipping training due to financial challenges outside caused by non-payment of salaries for over six months running now.
A supporters’ meeting held last
MBABANE – It’s a crunch fixture and one that has the element to decide Mbabane Highlanders’ title dreams.
A defeat to the log leaders this year Green Mamba will tear that title dream apart as the gap will widen, talk about the star-studded Inkunz’emnyama being reduced to smithereens.
If it happens Highlanders lose, it will be their second consecutive defeat as their good run was cut short by Royal Leopard with a narrowly 2-1 margin last Sunday.
That defeat saw the black and white ensemble fall nine points short of the leaders and three behind their traditional rivals Mbabane Swallows who they meet again in matchday 23.
However, numbers show it is still possible for Highlanders but they cannot afford another defeat or even a draw, but a win gives them good ground again.
There will be seven more games to play and that means 21 more points at stake as the race goes on. Green Mamba
TODAY: MANZINI WANDERERS VS MBABANE SWALLOWS AT MAVUSO SPORTS CENTRE, 1PM
Mlamuli ‘Mlaba’ Nkambule, Phathizwe Mabuza, William Kunene - Wanderers
Felix Badenhorst, Ayanda Gadlela, Kwakhe Tfwala - Swallows
weekend revealed the management of the fallen giants needs at least E200 000 to finish the season which is to drag following the upcoming FIFA international break to result in a long break, about two weeks or slightly over.
READINESS TO FIGHT
In the pre-match media conference on Friday afternoon, Wanderers declared bravery and readiness to fight the red hot Swallows with everything they have to avoid defeat, but grind a win to upset their continental football ambitious rivals currently on third in the log standings.
There are eight matches to play and for Wanderers it is sadly relegation they are playing to
MBABANE HIGHLANDERS VS GREEN MAMBA AT MAVUSO SPORTS CENTRE, 3:30PM
Kenneth ‘Mashaba’ Moloto, Mpendulo Tfomo, Philani Mkhonto, Musa Dlamini - Highlanders
Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, Mxolisi Mkhonto, Njabulo Tfwala, Khethokuhle Mkhontfo - G. Mamba
Tambuti Highlanders
G. Mamba
G. Mamba Highlanders
G. Mamba
Highlanders
G. Mamba Leopard
Highlanders
Highlanders G. Mamba
Highlanders
G. Mamba finally avenged their previous failures against Highlanders who completed a double against them last season.
The Ernest Mavuso-coached team, a former Highlanders gaffer last season, scored three to nothing in the reverse fixture avoid, as they are just one point away from the zone and losing today, which is likely, at least on paper due to form, could be a day to remember for them and their supporters especially if they fail to escape the axe.
The last two bottom-placed teams by end of the campaign will get relegated to the second tier league, the National First Division (NFD).
Will Swallows always be in Wanderers’ loyalists’ tongue as part of the reason they fell to NFD if they do?
WINNING GAMES
Currently, it is only a matter of the teams lower than them winning games to bring them under, while their remaining fixtures do not bring much hope for survival.
Interestingly, Swallows also know they are in a tough place right now, actually caught be
played at KaLanga Technical Centre on January 14, this year.
Also scoring his sixth goal of the season there was former Highlanders Captain and feared striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa who now has 10 goals.
He notched 23 last season in Highlanders colours and prior to that he scored 19.
SECOND HIGHEST SCORER
In both seasons, he finished second highest scorer to Young Buffaloes forwards Phiwayinkhosi ‘Slwabelwabe’ Dlamini and Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze who scored 23 and 26 respectively.
Then in-form midfielder Mxolisi Mkhonto who captains Green Mamba scored twice on the day while he declared superiority over his gifted brother at Highlanders, Philani Mkhonto, a national team Sihlangu star who thrives playing behind the forwards or in the wing midfield position.
They all have an eye for goal. They both told teammates and the media this was personal be
tween a rock and a hard surface.
There can be no compromise here as the Beautiful Birds of Mbabane have the title to try and win, return to the CAF Champions League or at least the CAF Confederation Cup as once again, the league looks likely to carry both tickets with no other tournaments in place this season, but the MoMo Cup win by rookies Nsingizini Hotspurs.
Sadly, Wanderers also must face their own in midfielders Tiger, Leon Manyisa, Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze, goalkeeper Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza and league’s leading goal scorer Felix Badenhorst who has 16 goals after 18 games.
These stars have to push Swallows closer to the leaders Green Mamba who have a three-point advantage over second-placed Young Buffaloes, six points adrift of Swallows who are on third and nine away from fourthplaced Mbabane Highlanders.
BITTER RIVALS
Swallows have dominated their bitter rivals in recent meetings and today is another of those days where the odds are heavily stacked against LiWeseli.
However, history also has it that no matter how down Wanderers are, they often get their groove back for this fixture to the point that they can cause an upset.
Be there to see it for yourself - this day may well be remembered for years to come if you consider Wanderers were given a 5-0 bashing by a youthful but highly impressive Denver Sundowns.
Swallows are high-scoring these days just like back in the day when they were once invincible over five seasons back.
Wanderers on the other hand are on the brink of relegation history, desperately needing the maximum points.
tween the two of them. Mxolisi has two brothers at Highlanders as Philani was this season joined by their much younger brother Siyabonga, who is a winger with loads of potential and with age on his side.
Highlanders need to win this one to reduce the gap between them and the leaders, hoping for other results involving the top four teams favours them.
They stand to draw level with Swallows on 37 points with a win, but defeat is unlikely or unexpected for Swallows and also Buffaloes who outfoxed Manzini Sea Birds 6-2 later yesterday.
A defeat will be devastating for the Black Bull, as it could see them fighting for the second spot as opposed to the championship, which their Managing Director Chief Ally Kgomongwe had so much set his eyes on the title this time around after finishing as runners-up last season, running a point shy of the champions Leopard.