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It comes a long,long way

29/08/2013 05:14:00 BY DUMISANI NTIWANE

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PLS/ Swazi Telecom Ultimate Home Cup champions Mbabane Swallows celebrate with the trophy at Mavuso Sports Centre after they beat Young Buffaloes 2-0 in the final.

Over the years, the annual Trade Fair Cup Knockout tournament has become an integral part of the domestic calendar.

Known by many names throughout the past decade, friends of the game the Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) ensured the tournament was resurrected and came back to life last year. This was after a five year absence, which must have felt like a nightmare for the soccer lovers. The exciting tournament is back and is scheduled to be officially launched today.

Previous champions since 1990

* 1990: Manzini Sundowns
The ‘Kappa Kappa’ ensemble demolished the exciting XI Men In Flight 4-1 in a completely one sided final.

*1991: Mbabane Highlanders
In a closely contested final, it was to be the second time unlucky for XI Men, who succumbed to a solitary goal defeat at the hands of a raging ‘Bull’.

*1992: Manzini Sundowns
Third time unlucky! XI Men In Flight, who were virtually unstoppable on their way to the final must have surely concluded that the gods of football did not want them anywhere near the Trade Fair Cup. Sundowns beat them 1-0

* 1993: Manzini Wanderers
The Hub giants simply had little problems going past ‘surprise package’ Ubombo Flyers, who had ridden on their luck all the way to the final only to get a 3-0 bashing as Wanderers painted the hub maroon and white.

* 1994: Moneni Pirates
An exciting Moneni Pirates’ side was too sleek for a resisting Green Mamba team, as the ‘Buccaneers’ needed a solitary strike to lift the cup.

* 1995: Mbabane Swallows
Kanga ‘Pitshou’ Nzenza scored the momentous stunner with a breathtaking strike, as the Mbabane giants broke their jinx over Manzini Sundowns to lift the title.

* 1996: Manzini Wanderers
The hub giants had to dig deeper into their reserves of courage as XI Men forced the game into extra time before Wanderers could wrap it up in a sweet 3-1 victory.

* 1997: Mbabane Swallows
Mozambican trickster Antonio ‘Talo Talos’ Massichane scored a wonder goal from near 35 yards to beat veteran goalkeeper Christopher ‘Tototo’ Khoza, as Swallows won by his solitary strike over luckless XI Men.

* 1998: Manzini Sundowns
The ‘Kappa Kappa’ ensemble again proved to be cup kings, beating police side Royal Leopard 2-1 to snatch the trophy.

* 1999: Mbabane Highlanders
Petros ‘Brooks’ Tembe scored the only goal as Highlanders prevailed over bitter rivals Mbabane Swallows.

* 2000: Manzini Wanderers
The maroon and white ensemble stunned defending champions Mbabane Highlanders with a 1-0 win.

* 2001: Green Mamba
The late Francis ‘Mkhulu’ Banda’s Green Mamba mesmerised favourites Manzini Wanderers before beating them 2-1 to lift the trophy.

* 2002: Mhlambanyatsi Rovers
A Gcina ‘Magiyane’ inspired Mhlambanyatsi Rovers defied the odds to beat huge favourites Manzini Wanderers, whom they clobbered 3-1 to send shockwaves throughout the country.

* 2004: Green Mamba
Green Mamba needed the dreaded penalty shootout to win 4-3 albeit controversially over Mbabane Swallows in the finals.

* 2005: Royal Leopard
Police outfit Royal Leopard triumphed 5-4 after sudden death penalties against favourites Manzini Wanderers.

* 2006: Manzini Sundowns
Basop! Sundowns stunned a star studded Mbabane Highlanders, whom they clobbered 4-3 in an exciting seven-goal thriller.

* 2007: Mbabane Swallows
In a tightly contested encounter Sandile Mdlovu stepped up to score with a wondrous free kick, as Swallows lifted yet another title against army side Young Buffaloes.
NB: Five year drought ensures tournament bounces back in 2012:

* 2012: Mbabane Swallows
For the first time in recent history, Swallows became the first team to defend the tournament even though there had been the five year ‘break’ when they beat a resisting Young Buffaloes side 2-0 in a replayed final.

* 2013: ................................?
Who will be crowned Champions?

Most wins since 1990

* Manzini Sundowns – 4 times
Obviously, the ‘Kappa Kappa’ ensemble is no longer the same team that last won the Trade Fair Cup Championship in 2006. Seven years ago one would have bet on them to lift it even this time but a lot of water has since gone under the bridge and they are certainly not favourites going into this year’s tournament. Being a knockout however, one can rule the Milton Dlamini’s charges to one’s peril.
They have made some interesting signings in the likes of Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze and some gifted though untested youngsters. It remains to be seen whether Sundowns can rekindle their glorious years in this exciting tournament.

* Mbabane Swallows – 4 times
No doubt, the glamour giants have fond memories of this tournament in recent times, having lifted the trophy four times since 1990. They obviously enter as red hot favourites by virtue of being the tournament’s defending champions having annexed the cup in a season to remember last season.

However, the history of the tournament is such that no team, well at least not since 1990 has defended the tournament in successive years. Swallows only got to defend the crown last year they had last won five years back, as the tournament then took a sabbatical for a period of five years.