SEMIS DERBY DELIGHT

MBABANE – Buckle up and be safe because the stage is set for the Ingwenyama Cup semi-finals – two derby games for the fans.

This did not come about without a moment of silence observed in honour of the slain PLS and Mbabane Swallows Chairman Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze, who was laid to rest over the weekend after he was gunned down in Ezulwini over a week ago.

Back to the draw, two-time champions Mbabane Swallows will face up with their First Division League unbeaten neighbours in 13 games, Mbabane Citizens. Army side Young Buffaloes who finished as runners-up to Swallows last season, will square up with police rivals Royal Leopard. Making the Mbabane derby more interesting is the fact that Citizens are almost a replica of the Mbabane Highlanders that then Managing Director Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane used to give Swallows tough times but lost twice and drew once with the red and white side. He is also a director at Citizens now and took most of those players with him, so this will be no new game for the minnows.

They have some experienced players for this match, who played it three times while in the Premier League.
These players are their goalkeeper Sandile Dlamini (ex-Bad Boys and Highlanders), Celani Shongwe, Baimba Kamara, Mancoba Vilakati, Bhekani Tsabedze and Sipho Tsabedze (all from Highlanders). They also have a good midfielder in former Orlando Pirates academy star Sikhulile Sekgothi and Senzo Dlamini, who add value to the squad.

A great game this promises to be and by nature of this tournament, anything remains possible even though all odds currently favour Swallows despite the shattering loss of their father and chairman. The forces’ derby is also a repeat of last year’s semi-final, as the two sides clashed and Buffaloes were winners only to lose it in the final. They meet again in the same stage but odds favour Buffaloes, who will also be out to gauge their readiness for their CAF Confederation Cup two-legged preliminary round clash with South Africa’s Cape Town City in about three weeks time. The draw was conducted yesterday at the Sincephetelo MVA Fund Headquarters in the capital city, with all four teams represented. Also present was MVA staff, the media and the tournament’s Management Committee (MC) chaired by Johannes ‘Ace’ Siboza.

MC member Masotja Vilakati was invited by the tournament’s PRO Lenhle ‘Makawosi’ Masuku, to help with conducting the draw. As he went about, it turned out the semis will be nothing but derby games.
“This is our draw for the third edition of the tournament’s semi-finals. It must be clear that these games won’t play this weekend but the following one. 

‘‘The MC will meet and release all fixture details,” Masuku said. He also appealed for the fans to cram the stadium as has been the case since the start, especially the last quarterfinal double-header that featured Manzini Wanderers against Mbabane Swallows.

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