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TIME TO RISE TO THE OCCASION

10/05/2023 08:23:00 Mengameli Mabuza

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MBABANE – The MTN Premier League title beckons for a Green Mamba side that will be hosting a confident Royal Leopard side, on their final fixture of the season on Sunday.

It is the last mile, as the champions will ascend to the podium to claim the E1 million prize. This weekend sees Inyoka Eluhlazane arguable going to face their big test when they visit the Edwin Matsebula-led side, full of confidence after embarrassing Mbabane Swallows 4-2 last Sunday. The decisive and massive clash will be at Nsukuwansuku Stadium in Mhlume.
It is a must-win clash for the Correctional Services side, who will be keeping a keen interest also in another make or break clash between second-placed Young Buffaloes and Tambankulu Callies, which will also be playing at the same time with the security forces derby. Green Mambe are three points ahead of Buffaloes and any point against the former defending champions will mean that the current log leaders will be official winners of the 2022/23 MTN Premier League title.

Past fixtures between the two forces teams suggest that Leopard have an edge over Green Mamba; winning four of the last six games in the league. The last fixture was back on October 23, 2022 which finished in a 2-0 win in favour of the log leaders and Coach Ernest Mavuso will be going into this game confident after they won the previous game. With that game proving to be high scoring, this weekend’s meeting is expected to be no different as the teams boast goal-poachers in their quality sides. Green Mamba will be hoping that players such as Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, Njabulo ‘Magwegwe’ Magagula and Mthunzi ‘Xavi’ Mkhontfo are expected to win the game for their side and are switched on for the match. Leopard, on the other hand, will be trusting players Junior ‘Shisa Gesi’ Magagula, Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini and Kelvin Kunene. Below we zoom in on the players who are expected to steal the show in the game which promises fireworks.

Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa (Green Mamba): The former Mbabane giants’ (Swalows and Highlanders) player was signed to help Green Mamba win the league and the weekend’s game against Leopard is going to be the defining moment for the once prolific striker to remind everyone what he is made off. ‘Sikhali’ has had a fair share of goals, scoring 12 goals in his debut season for the Correctional Services side. This match is one that the once feared marksman should leave his mark and reward the management headed by Mandla Sibiya.

Mthunzi ‘Xavi’ Mkhontfo (Green Mamba): The former AS Vita player is having a season of his life, scoring decisive goals and providing many assists for his teammates. The midfielder has proven his quality in many games this season and the game against Leopard will put the player in the spotlight and he is one of the many players who will be in a midfield battle with Leopard sleek ace, Junior ‘Andy’ Magagula who is currently back on form.

Njabulo ‘Magwegwe’ Magagula (Green Mamba): ‘Magwegwe’, as he is fondly known, played a huge role in his team’s impressive run in the season. The exciting midfielder who pulls the strings in the Ernest Mavuso set-up together with Mxolisi Mkhonto and Khethokuhle Mkhontfo has been a marvel to watch, scoring goals including last Sunday against Denver Sundowns, which also proved to be a match winner. The green and white ensemble won 2-0.

Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini (Royal Leopard): ‘Mzoro’, who is used in many positions by the Leopard technical team, will potentially be one of the players who will ruin Green Mamba’s chances of winning the league. He has had a decent season, helping Leopard recover from their bad showing in the first round and finishing the league sitting on position five. Mostly used as a winger, the Leopard player will possess a big threat with weighed in crosses and his pace will definitely need Green Mamba players to be on high alert.

Junior ‘Shisa Gesi’ Magagula (Royal Leopard): The former Sihlangu international player is without doubt one of the standout best midfielders in the league in the second round. ‘Shisa Gesi’ together with Mzoro have been Leopard’s most important players in what has been a challenging season for the police outfit. The player adds creativity, goals, drive and intensity. He is like a Concord (aeroplane); if you look at it flying past your area you would think its traveling at snail pace, while it is actually travelling faster than the speed of sound. If you do not see how valuable he is to Leopard and the league in general; then something must be wrong with your eyesight.

Kelvin Kunene (Royal Leopard): The young player who was signed in the second round of the registration period has proven to fit like a glove in the galaxy of stars in the Leopard squad. Kunene played the whole game against Swallows, dominating seasoned players like Xolani ‘Papi’ Sikhondze. The youngster does most of the dirty work; protecting the defence, cutting opposition attack through winning balls and will be another threat in blocking the log leaders’ scary attack.