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‘BIRDS’ OUT TO DISMANTLE PLATINUM!

23/05/2017 08:33:00 BY CHRIS DLAMINI

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MBABANE – Given that it’s free for all today at the country’s soccer Mecca to watch high-flying Mbabane Swallows take on South Africa’s Platinum Stars, the Somhlolo National Stadium should be jam-packed – the 7 000 free entries can be doubled as the fee is only E40 per fan.

An unnamed good Samaritan paid for 7 000 tickets to allow fans who get there on time to watch without paying a cent so Swazis can do this, double the numbers regardless that it is a working day. It is a must-win for Swallows if their boss’s dream to even go to the final is anything to go by. Swallows are last in their group with Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien on top after beating the locals 0-1 in their backyard, while their rivals today got a point at home to Algeria’s MC Alger. This means Swallows must use the home advantage and conquer the neighbours from Rustenburg and probably go second in the group after two out of six games as MC Alger and CS Sfaxien are also head-to-head.

We all know that Swallows are very capable of scoring a glut of goals at Somhlolo – they did it against the meanest of rivals in AC Leopards, which still remains one of the biggest African football upsets.
We all know Platinum Stars mean business too but it is home games you fight to win at all costs at this stage to stand a chance of making the quarter-finals as only two teams go through per group. Generally, South Africans do not want to lose to Swazis on any given day but they have and today cannot be any different.

We saw Swallows outshine Kaizer Chiefs not so long ago so Platinum must be in for it too. Captain Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze leads a full squad for once in three CAF games as every player is readily available for selection including latest additions Siyabonga ‘Msholozi’ Mdluli, Ndumiso Ndaba and Gabriel Goshen.

He knows South African football along with his veteran teammate Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko, a former Platinum Stars winger who has already been marked as a threat by his former club. Stars skipper Vuyo Mere said upon arrival on Sunday evening that Nhleko was one they knew well about and could make it difficult for them as he will be out to prove a point. However, Mere said while they expected a tough game, they would still walk out victorious. In the end, it is Swallows that so need the maximum points and with the support Swazis have been giving them in the tournament since the Orapa United preliminary round home clash, it is all possible. Swallows win this one then we can all wait for Algeria’s MC Alger to visit, then travel to Algeria before hosting CS Sfaxien and travel to Rustenburg for Platinum Stars.

Three home wins, one away can certainly be all Swallows need to break into the quarter-finals of the Total CAF Confederation Cup for the first time ever. Gwaza Mkhonto KaShaka! Your late acting CEO Sibusiso Manana usually said ‘Shaka akashayeki’ and all Swazis can unite to believe just he did for his club, rest in peace Cusi!