‘BUFFS’, ‘BIRDS’ FOR CHAMPS’

MBABANE – The seven remaining MTN Premier League matches will be nothing short of a cup final for the top four and bottom six teams.

It will prove a mouthwatering and spine-chilling title race as the league heads to matchday 24 this Saturday. With seven games remaining, by this publication brings you an analysis and former Vovovo head coach in Eswatini Football Coaches Association (EFCA) Secretary Musa Mamba was also sought for his expect point of view. The analysis looked at the remaining games for each of the top four teams while Mamba was also asked to give a brief comment about the relegation battles as the bottom six teams are all at risk but four are set for National first division football next season.

Currently at the top are defending champions Royal Leopard who are fresh from the TOTALEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 20221/22 group stage after failing in the Champions League. They are level with second-placed Mbabane Highlanders on 52 points, while on third place, Young Buffaloes are very close on 49 points. Mbabane Swallows are on fourth with 48 points. The bottom six from position 11 there is Milling Hot Spurs (25 points), Moneni Pirates (21), Rangers (20), Tambuti (19), Malanti Chiefs (19) and Tinyosi at the basement on 18 points.

Back to the title race, Mamba believes that the championship does not favour leaders Leopard and second-placed Highlanders, instead Buffaloes and Swallows seem to be the ones to produce the champions this season. “The remaining games will be crucial in deciding it but given Leopard and Highlanders’ opponents in the rundown to the end, they have tougher games than Buffaloes and Swallows. Leopard usually struggle against smaller opposition like Callies and Sea Birds when they still have to face Buffaloes, Highlanders and Wanderers.
“Highlanders also have tough fixtures against Leopard and Swallows where at maximum I see them getting two points out of these matches. It is Buffaloes and Swallows who seem to have easier rivals, save for Swallows and Leopard,” he said.

For Swallows, he predicted Swallows would need to beat Buffaloes and stand a better chance. However, Swallows who have five consecutive wins would still have to beat Tambankulu Callies and Manzini Wanderers. Swallows take on Sundowns next, Buffaloes face off with Tambuti, Highlanders is up against Callies, while Leopard take on Tinyosi, all on Saturday afternoon. All top four teams have won their previous matches last weekend.

The analysis also looked at the players and Mamba agreed that it was the likes of Junior Magagula (Leopard), Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa (Highlanders), Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze (Buffaloes) and Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze as well as Sizolwethu ‘Nunu’ Shabalala would likely be essential in determining the championship for their teams. Meanwhile, he predicted the bottom six teams would now produce the bottom four for relegation as they have not gone beyond 25 points to date when survival is about 33 points. Meanwhile, despite the championship, the two CAF spots in the Champions League and Confederation Cup are also at stake as the runners-up may once again represent the country in the latter tournament, while the champions head straight to the former. Leopard played Champions League football after winning the league last season but failed to qualify for the group stage and dropped to the Confederation Cup, where Buffaloes was booted out by current Zambian champions, Red Arrows who are off to the big boys’ tournament in the 2022/23 Champions League addition.
(Additional information by Chris Dlamini)

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