WHO WANTS IT THE MOST?

My dearest readers ...

“Sports journalists are the only people foolish enough to predict the outcome of a football match,” the dearly departed former Green Mamba mentor, Francis ‘Mkhulu’ Banda once told me in one of his minefield of quotable quotes.

I had predicted my family club Manzini Wanderers would beat Green Mamba in a Trade Fair Cup final only for the then wing wizard, Thokozani ‘Nyosi’ Tsabedze (Tony Tsabedze’s elder brother) to grab a brace as the ‘Weslians’ went down 2-1 before over 10 000 fans crammed at the Trade Fair grounds during the sun-baking Sunday afternoon of September 2, 2001.

Inspite of getting it all wrong, it has not stopped me from predicting the outcome of football matches and I can safely say, I have got it right 95 per cent of the time such that I am seriously considering being a sangoma in my next life.

Final

Here we go again ... it’s the EswatiniBank Cup final on Sunday at the country’s soccer mecca – Young Buffaloes versus Royal Leopard. This is a repeat of the 2014 EswatiniBank Cup final won by Royal Leopard, who trashed the army side 3-1.

It was the police side’s third EswatiniBank Cup glory – a feat they both share with sickle-as-a-parrot Mbabane Swallows. Edwin Matsebula’s charges, who are poised to win the league title for the first time since the 2015/16 season, will be playing a record fifth EswatiniBank Cup final having done so in 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2019.

Currently enjoying a five point lead – though having played a game more than nearest challengers Green Mamba and Young Buffaloes – ‘Ingwe Mabalabala’ are in imperious form. 

The police side journey to the final has not been an easy stroll in the park. Not only did they see off Mbabane Swallows 2-1 in the quarter-final on April 7 but they also booted out Green Mamba in the ‘pick of the semi-final draw’ at Nhlangano’s King Sobhuza II Memorial 1-0 on April 14.

Not only did Royal Leopard avenge the 0-2 league loss to the self-same Green Mamba at Mhlume’s Nsukuwansuku Stadium on March 27 but the police side will also be making a historic fifth cup final appearance in the 16-year chequered history of the magical tournament. As things stand, Leopard, together with comatose Mbabane Swallows, has won the tournament three times – 2007 (beating Manzini Sundowns 1-0, 2011 (beating Mhlambanyatsi Rovers 4-3) and then beating Young Buffaloes 3-1 on April 6, 2014.  On that day, on April 6, 2014, to ensure a capacity crowd, the sponsor, EswatiniBank paid midnight starring Busiswa to come and perform during the final. Of course they need to bring another popular SA artist to woo the crowd to the final again on Sunday, which give credence that an all-armed forces cup final is not everybody’s preferably kind of buffet.

On the other hand, Young Buffaloes need no introduction. Not only are ‘Amathole Ezinyathi’ reigning champions but they are back-to-back winners of the country’s most loved knockout tournament – a feat they now share with Mbabane Highlanders who won it in 2009 and 2010.

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