TEMPERS FLARE IN DERBY STALEMATE

LOBAMBA – Not since the fateful Sunday of December 7, 2014 has the country’s big derby lived up to its pre-match billing in uncharacteristic fashion.

The dearly-departed Prime Minister, Dr. Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, had to be escorted out of the stadium as soccer mayhem enveloped the country’s soccer Mecca in an ill-tempered clash that had to be called off with Swallows leading 4-1. Yesterday, it was a Sunday school picnic in comparison to the one of the most disgraceful adverts for Eswatini football of four years ago.

Yes, the emotions still ran high on and off the field, unpalatable words exchanged, a soccer fan belonging to Mbabane Highlanders beaten to a pulp behind the dressing rooms and a red card to Swallows defender, Sifiso Mabila. The Mbabane derby truly came alive in astonishing fashion as it preserved its 67 years’ glorious history as the must-see clash in the wacky world of Eswatini football! A super-charged Mbabane Highlanders enjoyed a lion’s share of possession, at times playing some aesthetically-pleasing football that thrilled the soul and Swallows, on the other hand, created better gilt-edged chances which went begging in a game that had everything except the all-important goal.

Defeats

It was perhaps fulfilling to the hordes of Highlanders fans, who had suffered seven consecutive defeats in all competitions against their bitter rivals, to engage in hyperbole celebrations that even took centre-stage outside the dressing rooms.  Never has a draw felt as sweet-as-nectarine for the long-suffering Highlanders fans who came to stadium tiptoeing on eggshells at the ‘crime scene’ of their 4-1 Ingwenyama Cup final massacre by ‘Cyclone’ Buffaloes two weeks ago.  While Swallows fans began singing their lungs out 30 minutes before kick-off, Highlanders’ grandstand was quieter than a mortuary. But as soon as referee, Thembinkosi Dlamini, who made a number of controversial calls on the day, declared the contest on, Highlanders took the game to their opponents with neat interchange of passes in particular former Swallows midfielder, Phumlani Ngwenya, deserved man of the match award winner, controlling the midfield with aplomb and making probing moves.

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