Times Of Swaziland: SEA BIRDS, SWALLOWS IN BATTLE OF ‘BIRDS’

SEA BIRDS, SWALLOWS IN BATTLE OF ‘BIRDS’
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BY LWAZI DLAMINI on 21/04/2021 07:59:00


The iconic King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium will be turned into a ‘Zoo’ this
afternoon when the two ‘Birds’ of Eswatini premier league cross ‘wings’
in an epic league clash that can easily be declared as the biggest clash of week
eight fixtures.
Not only are the two sides perfectly poised as number two (Sea Birds) and number
three (Swallows) separated by just two points, but previous encounters have
proven to be hard to predict. If anything, the plucky Manzini side, over the
years, have proven to be Swallows’ hoodoo side. ‘Izinyoni Zolwandle’ as
Manzini Sea Birds are affectionately known, is the surprise package of the
enthralling 2020/2021 season as the Gcina Dlamini-coached team are certainly
punching above their weight.Three wins including free points from the boardroom
table after Moneni Pirates were found guilty of causing the abandonment of the
opening fixture on December 12, 2020, has seen the Eswatini Football Association
(EFA) presidential hopeful Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane-owned club occupy a lofty
second position in seven games played. But in the other ‘Birds’ nest, the
Swallows of Mbabane will certainly meet their match.
devastating
Swallows has been in devastating form, scoring 13 goals in four games and
conceding only two to send a clear statement of intent to fight for the coveted
league title even this season. This has been the hallmark of the ‘Beautiful
Birds’ who have challenged the security forces hegemony in the last 18 years
with unmatched excellence. To be precise, the Swallows of Mbabane are the only
civilian side that has won the league title six times (seven times in total in
their chequered history) ever since Gcina ‘Magiyane’ Dlamini’s
predominantly youthful Mhlambanyatsi Rovers shocked all and sundry when they
lifted the league crown in the 2003-2004 season. In the last 18 years, the
league title has been changed between Swallows and the three security forces,
Royal Leopard, Green Mamba and Young Buffaloes, in that order.
Before the 2019/2020 season was cancelled with eight games remaining, the red
and white glamour side looked the only side that could challenge Young Buffaloes
for the Holy Grail of Eswatini football. This seems to be the case even this
season. But it is tough-as-teak clashes against plucky sides like Manzini Sea
Birds that will test the ‘Beautiful Birds’ resolve for the league
aspirations.