Times Of Swaziland: SEEDING FOR ‘INKILIVA’,  BLACK SWALLOWS

SEEDING FOR ‘INKILIVA’,  BLACK SWALLOWS
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BY ASHMOND NZIMA on 30/09/2016 09:48:00


MBABANE – Former ‘giant killers’ Umbelebele Jomo Cosmos and Black Swallows
have got a bye to the quarter-finals of the Ingwenyama Cup in Hhohho.
The second instalment of the tournament, sponsored by Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle
Accident Fund, will feature all the over 60 teams from Super League, which is
the country’s football third-tier. Following a successful launch earlier this
week, it is all systems go for Hhohho sides after knowing their opponents during
a draw at Sigwaca House in Mbabane yesterday.
Umbelebele, who made the SwaziBank Cup final in 2010 as well as 2012
semi-finalists Black Swallows, picked balls with the standby inscription inside
the pot to make the last eight in their respective zones.
The Msunduza-based ensemble will face the winner between Maphalaleni League
champions Billy Ocean and the renowned Dribbling Wizards.
Black Swallows, on the other hand, will cross swords with either Ndlalambi or
Nkonjaneni.
Tournament Management Committee Chairman Johannes ‘Ace’ Siboza, who
witnessed the match-ups, said the regional finalists would qualify for a
national eight-team tournament on top of a ticket to the main showpiece
featuring teams from the Premier League and National First Division.
“The prizes will be for the eight teams competing in the regional
championships.
“The full prize breakdown will be released next week,” said Siboza.
Regional teams failing to make the cut will benefit from the share of gate
takings during their games as they will be shared equally with the hosting
sides.
Manning yesterday’s proceedings was Hhohho Regional Football Association
(HRFA) Chairman Comfort Shongwe who stressed that sanity should prevail at the
soccer fields.
The regional teams will get a share from the E9 million purse launched in the
past year. In the first edition, won by Mbabane Swallows earlier this year, 
only the top two regional teams on the standings at the time of the draw
qualified for the tournament.