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UNCROWNED SWA-MPIONS

10/01/2017 08:46:00 By Lwazi's Pandora's Box

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My dearest readers ... From the onset, please be aware that this is no standard weekend matches review.

It is no end-of-season wrap-up. No routine summary of facts and in-depth analysis of a remarkable season. This is a memento; a marking of history; this records an event you will want to tell your grandchildren about. The year: 2017. The day: Sunday. The date: January 8. Same day iconic political movement, the African National Congress (ANC) celebrated its 105th birthday. And Mbabane Swallows are virtually the uncrowned champions of the 2016/17 MTN League.

With just one win away from clinching the most coveted trophy in our wacky world of football, the Swallows of Mbabane will rewrite history books if they win it in the next game against their hoodoo side, bottom loggers, Manzini Sea Birds as they would have won 16 games in a row. It would be historic because they would have won it with six games remaining. It would be more emphatic, more dramatic, more enchanting if they can win all the remaining games. That would be truly exceptional!

Lest we forget, overtime, in sport, even the greatest achievements fade. Mbabane Highlanders, once the country’s football barometer lifted the Castle Lager League trophy having gone the entire 1999-2000 season unbeaten under the tutelage of coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati, who was elevated to the head coach position following Mozambican coach, Nino Mahel quitting mid-way through. But they didn’t win all the 22 games. In world football, the unthinkable has often happened; the most memorable like this Swallows side’s amazing run of wins which stand at 15 right now but as I have already said, the greatest achievements fade with time. Sir Alex Ferguson’s 13 titles with my beloved Manchester United meld to one glorious procession.

That great institution founded in Orlando East in 1937, Orlando Pirates Football Club double Treble-winning seasons of 2010-11 and 2011-12. Arsenal’s2004 Invincibles. Liverpool’s 2005 UEFA Champions League Istanbul miracle comeback against Italy’s AC Milan inspired by one Steven Gerrard (Stevie G, the best there ever was and the best there will ever be). Then Leicester City’s unbelievable English premiership title triumph last season when at the start of the season they were 5 000-1 favourites to win it. Leicester City achieving global sporting immortality by winning football’s most coveted league title was something truly exceptional.

Even better than Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles, Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati’s Mbabane Swallows, if they end up winning all 22 games, will be champions without compare. They would have written their own illustrious history, with iron ink on local football’s Hall of Fame. Already it is hard to put Swallows’ amazing run into context because so little can be compared.