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SCARY RELEGATION STATISTICS FOR ‘BULL’

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MBABANE – Relegation-haunted Mbabane Highlanders’ league statistics are not providing any form of encouragement in their quest to dodge the dreaded axe.


In fact, the club’s points collection ratio has dropped since the audacious ousting of former Chairman Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane on October 25 last year. 
Statistics for the country’s most successful side in history, who are once again flirting with the relegation chop for the second time in three seasons, show that the side has gone from bad to worse of late.


Since Simelane’s resignation following his attack by a handful of the team’s supporters back in October at the Somhlolo National Stadium following a crippling 3-0 defeat at the hands of Royal Leopard, the ‘new broom’ has not swept any cleaner.


If anything, better results have gone down from Simelane’s 28.5 per cent points’ collection rate to 26.6 per cent now with the new leadership, currently led by top lawyer Zweli Jele. The reality now is that Highlanders are second from the basement after accumulating just 14 points from 17 MTN League matches. 


At this rate, the capital city giants are staring the prospect of being chopped from elite league football for the second time in three seasons despite a rich 65-year trophy-laden history.
Their remaining five league matches include a battle with long standing rivals Manzini Wanderers, basement side Manzini Sea Birds, dates with armed forces sides Green Mamba and Young Buffaloes and ultimately the big derby against bitter sworn rivals Mbabane Swallows. On paper it does not look any good.


Simelane played seven league games and from a possible 21 points, he managed six which equates to a 28.5 per cent points collection rate compared to eight points accumulated from a possible 30 that equals 26.6 per cent points collection rate.  And from the seven games, four were against title challenging sides such as champions elect Mbabane Swallows, Young Buffaloes, Royal Leopard and Manzini Sundowns. His team lost 2-3 to Swallows, 1-2 to Sundowns and 0-3 to Leopard. They then held second-placed Young Buffaloes to a barren draw, beat Tambuti FC 4-0 and drew 0-0 against Red Lions and Midas City.


Rodney ‘Stumbo’ Charles is the fourth Highlanders coach this season alone when he was introduced to the players on Tuesday afternoon following the sacking of Zimbabwe-born mentor Herbet Maruwa. First it was Malawian strategist Meck Mwase and then Terisai Changara before Maruwa.

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