IT’S WIN OR FALL FOR THREE TEAMS

MBABANE – Since the maladministration of the elite game that played itself out last week, delaying the finish of the MTN Premier League for no justifiable reason when it would all have ended timely last Sunday, we are now moving on.

The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) just could not let what had been an exciting league title and relegation battle wrap up with the hype it deserved. Some action took place last Sunday for Week 29 matches, leaving the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) with one round of matches to finish the league. Following the success of last Sunday’s matches, the PLE can now breathe a little as they know they will finish a bit-part of the league this weekend and then the big title-deciding top four head-to-head fixtures next Sunday. Below, a brief analysis of some of the weekend clashes follows, who must do what to survive or simply stand to be relegated? Four teams must go down as per the rules, currently two are already determined, Malanti Chiefs and Tinyosi. Find out who else could join them and what must happen to survive;

Milling Hot Spurs

Stadium, Nhlangano
Coach: Mpendulo Mawelela
Do or die: Placed precariously one place above the bottom four with a final match against a tricky Manzini Sea Birds, there is no other option for Milling Hot Spurs but to win the match. They did it in January when they edged Sea Birds 1-0 in their home fixture, so the head-to-head rule is on their side until the 90 or so minutes on Sunday. Sea Birds are safe from the axe and only running for position six even though it is also not in their hands.
They can finish above Manzini Wanderers who are one place above them, on position seven with a two point gap in-between them while Vovovo, who are on position six, have 40 points and a defeat keeps them there. It would only be a head-to-head that comes to play to decide who takes sixth as even Wanderers and Green Mamba are playing for this position (E75 000 is the prize). Also, Milling are just a point above Tambuti who they played 1-all in both fixtures, while they drew 2-all and won 1-0 against Rangers.
Verdict: A win clears them completely on 31 total points, unless both Tambuti and Rangers lose should it prove difficult for Milling to win or even get a point.

Tambuti FC

Venue: Mayaluka Stadium, Big Bend
Coach: Clement ‘King Clay’ Mdluli
Do or die: The head-to-head rule is against Tambuti when it comes to their two fixtures with Milling Hot Spurs, who remain the only team outside of the bottom four that can still go down. For the Clement ‘King Clay’Mdluli led-outfit theirs is simple, beat already chopped Tinyosi, reach 30 points and hope Milling drop points to survive. They lost 3-0 to Tinyosi in the reverse fixture.
Verdict: No two ways for them, a win is a must to survive.

Rangers FC

Venue: Prince of Wales Sports Ground, Mbabane
Coach: Mthunzi Ginindza
Do or die: Pray that they win, Tambuti and Milling slip up. Rangers cannot cheat the axe without the two teams above them losing their games. The win helps them go on 29 points from 26, which if Milling, who are on 28 happen to lose, they go past by a point. However, it does not end there for Rangers. They will still need Tambuti to either get a point or lose completely then that takes down the latter as well as Milling. If Tambuti win, Rangers win but Milling gets a point, then the latter and Rangers go down as Tambuti will be on 30 points with a win.
Verdict: Vovovo will not be an easy rival for Rangers as the Motshane side is also hopeful to finish on position six but a defeat compromises that. So, Rangers need to ‘shoot’ Vovovo down to survive. Winning will not help Rangers if Milling earn a point to hit 29 and Tambuti lose or draw.

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