BATTLES THAT COULD IGNITE DERBY

MBABANE- Mbabane Highlanders and Mbabane Swallows will be relying heavily on their leading players to give them the edge in the pivotal match-ups in today’s Mbabane derby set to take centre stage.

The expectations will weigh heavily on the shoulders of the players, and if any emerge as the weakest link, the packed house will roar its disapproval. It is likely the house full signs will go up long before the 3pm start. The match will likely be won and lost in the midfield, which remains the heartbeat of the team. Here are the battle duals to look forward to:

Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze vs Banele ‘Stiga’ Ndzabandzaba

Pupu will be wasting no time trying to stamp his authority in midfield. He loves running the show and works his area well. He has often forced opposition teams to penetrate down the flanks rather than look to attack down the middle. For Highlanders, Stiga has breathed new life into the team. His link-up play is superb, and this role ensures that Highlanders front-runners will be assured of possession to make an impact in the final third.

Vusumuzi ‘Ramos’ Vilakativs Mutanda Bashiri

‘Ramos’ will be the Highlanders player assigned to look after Swallows dangerman Mutanda, who knows how to pull opposition defences out of shape. Ramos biggest asset is his sound positioning when teams launch attacks, and he has a keen sense of anticipation. He copes well when opponents try to bully him and has an eye for launching attacks from deep options by exploiting gaps in midfield with lengthy passes. Mutanda on the other hand will prove a handful for Ramos.

Colani ‘Ginger’ Sikhondze vs Philani Mkhontfo

This could be the most intriguing on the day because it involves Highlanders biggest weapon Mkhontfo, who has emerged as the hottest property in the MTN Premier league. He has been dominant in recent matches and will be a serious concern for Swallows. The tough-as-teak Mbabane Swallows anchor man on the other hand could be tasked with keeping him quiet, which effectively means ensuring that the ball does not reach him.

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