HOW AZAM’S DOWNFALL WAS ORCHESTRATED

Sir,

History books were written anew on Sunday at Somhlolo National Stadium in front of hordes of football followers when Mbabane Swallows beat Tanzanian side Azam FC to progress to the next round of the Confederations Cup.
The scenes of jubilation that characterised the stadium at the sound of the referee’s final whistle were enough to deduce that indeed Swazi football has come of age.

 Gone are the days when our teams used to be whipping boys in continental competitions. Mbabane Swallows came with a perfect game plan that rendered the Tanzanian giants an average team. They fought gallantly to overturn the loss suffered in Tanzania a week earlier; scoring three goals that ensured that the visitors were down and out. As much as Swallows were trailing from the first leg match, they were under less pressure compared to their opponents who were faced with the task of protecting their lead, albeit away from home. The players were in a positive psychological mindset and they believed that they could do it; hence they matched their opponents pound for pound. 

The Birds had to stick to their game plan and not allow their opponents to attack them. They kept the back door shut even though the defence seemingly had a torrid time in containing the Tanzanians attack. Using two strikers Swallows were bound to score before the end of the first half - something which really boosted their confidence in the second half.

The home ground advantage which provided a boisterous home crowd for Swallows also played a very significant role in the victory, and the good job done by all the stakeholders in marketing the game cannot be ignored. Other teams like police ensemble Royal Leopard did it before and their names are surely inscribed in the country’s football hall of fame. And now it is time for Swallows to show the rest of the world that Swazi football has attained greater strides in terms of playing standard.

Comfort Jele

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