Wanderers VS Downs
MBABANE – Exciting fixtures are on the cards in the Swazi Telecom/PLS Trade Fair Cup, which will be launched on Thursday.
This publication has established that hub giants Man-zini Wanderers will face rivals Manzini Sundowns in the preliminary ro-und that kicks off on Friday night at Mavuso Sports Centre.
This stage of the competition excludes the top four finishers who comprised; Mbabane Swallows, Malanti Chiefs, Green Mamba and Mo-neni Pirates. The four teams will only join the competition in the quarter-finals stage.
The rules and regulations of the tournament state that the team that finished position five, which is Young Buffaloes, will play the team on position eight which is reigning Swazi Telecom Charity Cup champions Royal Leopard. Sundowns, who finished sixth, play seventh-placed Wanderers and the winner of the tie will face Green Mamba in the last 8.
The winner of the Buffaloes vs Leopard match will face last season MTN League runners-up Malanti Chiefs. Other fixtures pit Manzini Sea Birds against returnees RSSC United whose winner will face treble kings and defending Champions Mbabane Swallows.
Mbabane Midas City face neigh-bours Umbelebele Cosmos in the other preliminary round whose winner will come face to face with Moneni Pirates in the quarter finals.
There is a likelihood of a semi final meeting between Mbabane Swallows against Moneni Pirates and Malanti Chiefs against Royal Leopard, Young Buffaloes, Green Mamba, Manzini Wanderers or Manzini Sundowns.
The Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) CEO Nqobile Magagula could only confirm that the draw will be based on the tournament’s rules and regulations which will be launched soon. She said more details about the cup will be released during the launch including dates, venue and playing times.
The Wanderers against Manzini Sundowns clash will provide Banele Pupu Sikhondze and Dumisani Kunene a chance to face their former teams for the first time after being shipped to opposite ends.
The ‘Weslians’ cleared Sikhondze to the Kappa Boys following a documented discipline problem. It will also provide newly appointed Manzini Sundowns coach Milton Dlamini who has spent the better part of his career working in South Africa a chance to test his charges in an official match against another top coach in Kenny Ndlazi who is in charge of Manzini Wanderers.