‘BIRDS’ VS ‘BUFFS’ IN SEMIS

MBABANE – It is official – there is no derby in the semi-finals of the 2018/19 Ingwenyama Cup.

The last four pairings are out and soccer heavyweights and archrivals Mbabane Highlanders and Mbabane Swallows have avoided each other in the semi-finals of Eswatini’s richest knockout tournament, which has a E1.3 million purse for the winners. Instead, the latter will face Young Buffaloes in a repeat of the second edition (2016/17) final, which the capital city giants won by a 27th minute Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa header back on February 5, 2017.

Surprise package Malanti Chiefs and Mbabane Highlanders face off in the other semi-final and will be both in chase of their maiden appearance in the decider. Interestingly, they also have  a date in their next league match-up. The draw was conducted before teams’ representatives, Ingwenyama Cup Management Committee as well as the media at the sponsor, Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF), headquarters in Mbabane yesterday. The games will be played this coming Sunday at Somhlolo National Stadium. Like in the previous draws, two teams were first randomly drawn from the pot by teams’ representatives and it turned out to be Young Buffaloes and Mbabane Highlanders, respectively. The biggest assignment of the day was picking the opponents of the two teams in that order.

Derby

When Highlanders representative Mandla Madonsela marched to the podium to pick Buffaloes’ opponents, some of those inside the venue could be seen breathing heavily, as the derby was still a possibility. The ever jolly tournament PRO Lenhle Masuku tried in vain to calm the situation. When Swallows’ name came out of the ‘hat’, hopes of the derby were up in smoke. It then became obvious that Highlanders’ opponents would be Malanti Chiefs. Both Swallows and Highlanders have avoided defeats against their opponents in the league this season following 2-1 victories. In reaction to the draw, Swallows PRO Jackson Dlamini felt it was fair and the players would recover mentally on time following last Sunday’s 1-2 setback against Manzini Wanderers in the league.

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