BIG GUNS PRIMED FOR BUMPER DERBY

MBABANE – Households, co-workers, neighbours and gym buddies will once again be divided as capital city giants Mbabane Swallows and Mbabane Highlanders renew their rivalry this afternoon.

Exactly 21 days after firing blanks in a league fixture, the sides are out to cancel each other out again in a bumper Ingwenyama Cup Last 16 clash at Somhlolo National Stadium.

There is so much anticipation ahead of this match-up, as the teams are meeting in this tournament for the first time. Highlanders will hope to remain calm in the face of adversity following a dramatic week headlined by the suspension of gaffer Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati ‘for a few hours’. At the time of compiling this report yesterday, the team was yet to come out clear if Vilakati would be in charge today. Versatile full-back Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze has reportedly trained with the team for only a day while the equally seasoned Ndumiso Mabuza is suspended after accumulating three yellow cards.
blockbuster clash

In Swallows’ camp, on the other hand, there were no reports of instability and their preparations for the blockbuster clash have gone according to plan. The restlessness in their rivals’ camp is like sweet melody in their ears.

While the sides hardly meet in Cup competitions of late, Swallows still boast better head-to-head. The last meeting in a knockout was in the final of the 2018 Charity Cup on August 5 of that year and Swallows won 2-1. 

Two years earlier, they had met in the Last 16 of an almost similar tournament which is played under the EswatiniBank banner. Swallows celebrated a narrow 1-0 win. In the league, the last time Highlanders beat Swallows, ‘it rained in the Kalahari Desert’. That was back on April 3, 2016. In essence,  Honour Janza’s men are unbeaten in this fixture in nine straight matches in all competitions.
However, Highlanders will still fancy their chances, as the last two meetings have ended in goalless stalemates.

While the likes of skipper Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze, gifted centre-back Kingu Pemba, and crafty midfielder Paito Dube are expected to make the difference for Swallows, Highlanders will look up to players like stylish youngster Lindani ‘Rio’ Matsenjwa, shot-stopper Khanyakezwe Shabalala and forward Menzi Sithole to swing the pendulum in their favour.

There will be a winner this time around, as it is a knockout and forget the head-to-head results, as the form book is thrown out of the window when it comes to this fixture.

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