(At Mavuso Sports Centre)
MANZINI – The dust has settled on a weekend of high drama and cultural pageantry in the E5 million-sponsored Ingwenyama Cup.
As the echoes of traditional songs fade from the Mavuso Sports Centre, the narrative of this year’s tournament has shifted: The ‘romance of the cup’ has largely been replaced by the cold, hard reality of top-flight dominance.
With 14 of the 16 Premier League teams safely through to the next round, the upcoming Last 16 draw promises to be a heavyweight affair. The safety net is gone, and for the ‘big guns’, the path to glory now likely leads through one another. As the saying goes: Itintile! Akudlalwa Kuyadlalwa, it has begun, and the time for play is over; this is serious business.
Yesterday’s grand opening was more than just a football match; it was a vibrant collision of sport and culture. Against a backdrop of cultural performances that had the capacity crowd eating out of the palms of their hands, the dignitaries, including Cabinet ministers and football bigwigs, watched as the hierarchy of local football reasserted itself.
Sponsor, Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund (SMVAF), delivered a sobering and vital message to the nation.
Representatives, who were joined by SMVAF Chief Executive Officer Khangeziwe Mabuza at the stadium, took centre stage to remind fans that while passion on the pitch is encouraged, safety on the roads is paramount.
The key message was clear: Discourage the use of mobile phones while driving to cut down on unnecessary road accidents. In a tournament that celebrates life and culture, the sponsor is determined to ensure fans arrive at the stadium and return home safely.
The headline act featured Mbabane Highlanders, a side with a point to prove. Haunted by a previous opening round exit at the hands of Lozitha Spurs, the ‘Black Bull’ ensured lightning did not strike twice. Led by a clinical hat-trick from Siyabonga Mkhonto, Highlanders strolled to a 3-0 victory without ever needing to engage second gear. They remain firmly in the hunt for their first-ever Ingwenyama Cup title.
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Lozitha Spurs' goalkeeper, Bonginkhosi Simelane beaten by Siyabonga Mkhonto.