Times Of Swaziland: IT’S ‘BIRDS’ VS GREEN MAMBA! IT’S ‘BIRDS’ VS GREEN MAMBA! ================================================================================ BY CHRIS DLAMINI on 06/03/2018 07:13:00 MBABANE – It’s time for amends as Green Mamba will go into this one with the 2016 final well relived in their minds – Mbabane Swallows beat them 2-1. With E1 million at stake for the champions, they now meet in the Last 16 stage of the SwaziBank Cup following yesterday’s draw at the bank’s Auditorium in the Capital City. This draw, like many before, did not come without any shivers and wishes. With all 16 teams in one pot (no seeding), the first eight were drawn on the left and then their rivals but Royal Leopard’s Frank Hurube could not take the heat as three more rivals were to be drawn with Swallows still in the waiting – he just did not want his Ingwenyama Cup rivals yet. As the much-loved knockout tournament’s slogan goes Uyayifuna Na? the fans will be treated to a Swallows versus Green Mamba clash this weekend. Giants Mbabane Highlanders face a struggling Midas Mbabane City in what appears a tricky match as the latter knocked out the former in 2011 after a penalty shootout. For those who worship with Manzini Wanderers, it is not all as easy as they face elite rookies Vovovo who have given them problems already in a knockout situation – the Ingwenyama Cup where the latter won 4-2. However, both Wanderers and Highlanders won their league clashes against these sides. For Highlanders, it was 3-2 in first round and then a devastating 6-0 in the second round which made most believe they were already through but Midas City just recorded their first win of the season and will come to this one motivated and knowing it’s a knockout – a different ball game altogether. Wanderers won 3-1 in first round and come into this clash with their spirits high after going three games unbeaten in the league and SwaziBank Cup, their latest result a 2-all draw with Matsapha United in the league where they came from 2-0 down. Given the floor to comment about the draw, Green Mamba’s CEO Thami Phakathi, who had no rival as Swallows are out of the country for the CAF Champions League clash in Zambia against Zanaco tomorrow, had the floor all to himself. “As you can see it’s a big game, I think the biggest in this draw. We’ll prepare for them MD and wish they go and return home because we’re playing them. “We want to be here when Vultures return for the Last 8 draw,” he said and worth noting is that even in the MTN League’s next fixtures, his team plays same rivals. Green Mamba will play the match fresh from a 3-1 drubbing by Highlanders but their rivals will have only two days before taking them on after returning from Zambia expectedly on Thursday afternoon.