IT’S MAKE OR BREAK FOR MB. SWALLOWS

MBABANE – “When you start thinking of pressure, it’s because you’ve started to think of failure.”

The country’s CAF Champions League envoys should have this quote by one Tommy Lasorda in mind when they welcome Zambia’s Zesco United for the decisive Group D clash at Mavuso Sports Centre this afternoon.  As it is, the penultimate fixture of the group stages, anything less than a win will be a recipe for disaster, as Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati’s men are already playing catch-up.

Both Vilakati and influential defender Stanley Umukoro were spot on  in yesterday’s press conference at Mavuso Sports Centre, when they said that it was a do or die fixture.

 Swallows are on four points, while their rivals are on two. With second-placed Club Desportivo, who are five points at leaders Etoile’s favourite hunting ground; the winner of the Mavuso clash will boost chances of reaching the quarter-finals.  The good news for the capital city giants is that the visitors have a depleted squad, as Kenya-born talisman Jesse Jackson Were, who has scored 50 goals for the side, was one of few players grounded by visa challenges in South Africa.

However, Swallows had a fair share of challenges following the injury of key players who include Mandla Palma and Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko. Coach said the injury concerns could be addressed on time as the players were 70 per cent fit.
Grafter Xolani ‘Papi’ Sikhondze is out of the game alongside surprise acquisition Phumlani Ngwenya from Manzini Sundowns.
In the reverse fixture, Swallows managed to grind the result in the 1-all draw away from home.
Scorer of the Zambian outfit’s goal in that match, David Owino has been ruled out due to injury. Striker Simanga Shongwe, who is off-form, had scored for the red and white ensemble.
The spirit in Swallows’ camp is high after their visit to Siphofaneni, where they had an opportunity to relax and bond.
The permutations come to play at this stage, but Swallows will not need to cling onto their calculators if they do the required job this afternoon. The message to Swallows from the maximum 5 000 Eswatini supporters who are expected to fill up Mavuso is loud and clear. You can do it.
Following an upset in the last two fixtures against Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia, Swallows have the verve to grind the result following the morale boosting success in the Charity Cup about a fortnight ago.

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