Swazi Observer

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BRAGGING RIGHTS AT STAKE

By SABELO GWEBU | 2022-01-23

Mbabane Highlanders vs Mbabane Swallows
Mavuso Sports Centre, 3pm
SOCCER – The rivalry between Mbabane Highlanders and Mbabane Swallows dates back seven decades ago.

It is the biggest fixture in the land for many reasons than one.
Not here in Mbabane but across the country, it is either you are black or red if you deliberately ignore Manzini sides Wanderers and Moneni Pirates.

This game divides families. Most often than not, men go to bed without food if they have lost a derby
A derby defeat is a bitter pill to swallow. Both sides have a collective 48 trophies among them and they are the country’s most successful clubs. Highlanders hold a record 25 trophies despite the fact that they last won the league in the turn of the New Millennium- in the 2000/2001 season.

This is largely thanks to their 1980s throughout to the 90s dominance but make no mistake, they have not at all lost their swag.
On the other hand, Swallows command a bucketful 23 trophies with 14 coming between 2011 and 2018 where the red and white giants swept the boards under the leadership of dearly departed former boss Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze.

Established in 1948, the red and white glamour side is the country’s oldest club.
Highlanders were established in 1952 by a group of Eswatini College of Technology (ECOT) students and they will go on to dominant the local league. The history between the two sides is as rich as Croesus.

In the last couple of weeks, both clubs have had their fair share of problems. After weeks of uncertainty, Highlanders surprisingly sacked head coach Ernest Mavuso replacing him with South Africa’s Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala. Prior to Mavuso clash with the ‘Black Bull’ hierarchy, they were unbeaten in 10 MTN Premier League games.

He was omitted last Sunday and Highlanders suffered their first defeat of the season to premier league returnees Vovovo courtesy of an Innocent ‘Inno’ Dlamini second half strike.
Mosala comes highly rated and is a UEFA A License holder.

He was recently with South Africa’s DStv Premiership side Sekhukhune United as assistant coach and has coached clubs like Polokwane City, Black Leopard and Free State Stars in the Premier Soccer League.

On the other hand, a string of bad results saw Swallows fans bay for Ghanaian coach Christopher Ennin’s blood in a week eight fixture at King Sobhuza II Stadium. Fearing for his life, Ennin stopped attending the club’s activities and was subsequently released with Musa Manyatsi and Siyabonga Bhembe taking charge as co-coaches.

Their combination is yet to test defeat, winning their matches in charge, convincingly so against Denver Sundowns and Moneni Pirates.
But as rightly articulated by legends Mcolisi ‘Nana’ Dlamini and Stanford Ncube in our sister Eswatini Observer’s Friday publication, form and history is irrelevant when it comes to the derby.

According to the two who stared for Highlanders and Swallows respectively in the early 2000s, the best prepared side on the day is the one which will walk away with the maximum points.

WHERE HIGHLANDERS CAN WIN AND LOSE IT
n Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa remains the deadliest striker in the league and he is every defender’s nightmare. One senior coach said when a club signs a defender, he must be tested if he could deal with ‘Sikhali’ before being handed a contract.

n Highlanders’ supporters are bitter with the management’s decision to sack coach Ernest Mavuso if their social media comments are anything to be considered. Getting a new coach ahead of a big game like the derby can be costly.

WHERE SWALLOWS CAN WIN
OR LOSE IT
n The coaching combination of Musa Manyatsi and Siyabonga Bhembe will be facing their biggest test yet since taking charge on interim basis. Their tactical and technical knowhow will be tested here against a side with quality players all-round.

n For the first time this season, especially in the last two matches- Swallows are playing their direct attacking football with a lot of crosses sent into opponents’ danger areas hence the six goals in the last two games. With Felix Badenhorst back on form, he is better utilised by his teammates.

TEAMS
HIGHLANDERS
Coach: Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala
Captain: Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa
Key players: Tony ‘Ben 10’ Machacha, Nkosinathi Fakude, Lindokuhle ‘Ntolo’ Fakudze
Match winner: Kenneth Moloto

SWALLOWS
Coach: Musa Manyatsi
Captain: Tony Tsabedze
Key players: Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze, Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu, Sizolwethu ‘Nunu’ Shabalala
Match winner: Felix Badenhorst

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