MANZINI CENTRAL, MANZINI INSTACASH CHAMPS

MANZINI – It is a case of coming from zero to hero for Manzini Central High School who yesterday edged St. Christopher’s High 4-2 on penalties to win as ESSA Manzini Branch, Instacash Schools Soccer Tournament champions.

It is only last month that Central were booted out of the same tournament by their hub derby rivals, Malunge High after sudden death penalties in the branch’s knockout qualifiers to determine the teams to form the last 16 of the tournament from all branches and four regions in the country.
Central, however, bounced back into it and now they are champions after defeating all the schools countrywide with registering most Instacash clients.
The rules were to the effect that, the school to have the most clients registered gets a spot in the national last 16.

As that happened, the draw was held last week and Malunge High was their opponent under the Manzini Branch games. Central now represents Manzini under the ESSA which denotes Eswatini Schools Sports Association (ESSA) and will meet Lubombo champions, Sibetsaphi High, in the semis next Friday. The winner will take on either Shiselweni’s Evelyn Baring or Eric Rosenberg who represent Hhohho as they were one of two schools that had to sacrifice their branches to fill-up the regions with three teams to make it four per group.

Meanwhile, with Central going ahead in the opening 10 minutes of the game through elite side Manzini Wanderers’ skilful player Mcebo Nkambule.
His elite rival in Denver Sundowns, Mukelo Nkambule, equalised for St. Christopher’s in midway through the second half, forcing the match in the dreaded penalty shootout. This was after Central had already won in one against Malunge during the semis in the opening game in the morning which they won 4-2 after the penalties. There was no stopping Central as they proved the penalty kings on the day with St. Christopher’s Captain Mandisa Msane’s penalty the highlight as he ballooned its way over the bar.

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