THE E200K DO OR DIE CLASH!

According to the Animal Dome website, a wounded leopard is more aggressive and therefore more dangerous.

‘They are fast, vicious and have been known to attack humans for nothing more than a midnight snack.’ The message is loud and clear to anyone who swears by the horns of the ‘Black Bull’. After the shameful 6-2 mauling by South Africa’s Orlando Pirates in the CAF Confederation Cup Group B match at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday, a wounded Royal Leopard will be seeking redemption in what is ostensibly the match of the first round. Besides being a pending match before the second round gets underway this weekend, this match is the decider for the E200 000 first round incentive. It is worth its weight, in gold. It is a do or die; kill or be killed kind of clash where sparks are set to fly. While Leopard are licking their wounds from the 6-2 massacre, Highlanders have been inactive on the domestic front since they beat Milling Hot spurs 2-0 at Mavuso Sports Centre on Sunday, 6 February. They took a detour to Mozambique to play their Mozambican namesake and suffered a 2-1 defeat in a friendly match, coach ‘Sly’ Mosala believes they picked a lot of positives.

While hyperbole celebrations on Saturday of the team being registered as a company were overshadowed by team secretary Simiso ‘Kebhane’ Jele being involved in a near fatal car accident, it is today’s clash which looms large in defining their entire season. A season that has largely be merry with convincing displays, glut of goals and most importantly a fortuitous derby win, could pale into insignificance, if they fail to win the E200 000 first round incentive after being on top of the log table for more than three months. It would be a distressing feeling for the club’s legions of fans who have filled stadiums wherever they have gone this season buoyed by the belief that this could be the season when they finally end 21 years without a league trophy.

Tears

The last time Highlanders won the first round ‘carrot’ was during the reign of Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane in the 2015/2016 season, which ended in tears when the self-same Leopard snatched the league title on the final day of the season. The wounds have still not healed to many Highlanders supporters who verily believe winning the first round E200 000 ‘carrot’ would be a start of better things to come. While Leopard coach Edwin Matsebula has talked about his players needing to consult a psychologist after the distasteful events in Mbombela, Highlanders would need to be mentally strong and calm for this important clash. The ‘Black Bull’ do hold a slight advantage but it is very slight – just one point ahead of Leopard. This means even a draw would be enough to snatch the first round incentive and keep them on top, ahead of a humdinger clash against Manzini Wanderers on Sunday. But as this game has proven, since time immemorial, slight margins – like one point advantage - can be the difference between everlasting glory and perpetual agony. If Leopard beat Highlanders, like they did in the last meeting between the two sides on June 10, 2021 at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium, the one-point advantage will pale into insignificance. Once again captain Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, with 14 goals in 14 games, will lead Highlanders, attacking forays, while former Highlanders striker Thabiso Mokenkoane will spearhead the police side frontline in the quest to spoil Highlanders expectant party. As the Stone of Roses tune belts out in Manchester United’s Theatre of Dreams – which has slowly turned into an arena of nightmares – This is the one. Yes, this is the one; this is the E200 000 first round incentive decider. They do not come any bigger than this one!

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