One cup, 2 Nsingizini teams

MBABANE – The Ingwenyama Cup has a habit of throwing up intriguing subplots, but few are as striking as this one.

Among the 32 clubs set to chase knockout glory in the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund (SMVAF)-sponsored tournament are two teams from different divisions carrying the Nsingizini name. These are elite league outfit Nsingizini Hotspurs FC and Super League side Nsingizini FC originating from the same community in the Shiselweni region. The four regional champions qualify for the main Ingwenyama Cup.

Dressed in identical colours, slightly different logos and backed by the same sponsor, Macsteel, the pair arrive from separate rungs of Eswatini football, yet step onto the same national stage, adding a rare and compelling layer to this season’s competition.

A 1-0  victory over Amalanda two days ago at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium, under wet skies, was enough to book the Shiselweni Super League side a spot in the tournament’s national phase. One of their notable players was Bheki Mlotsa, known to be the team manager for the elite side. They earned E6 000 for this achievement, on top of the ticket to the Last 32 of the main tournament.

The Shiselweni Regional Football Association (SRFA) played this match to decide their representative in this competition. The 32 participants comprise regional teams, Premier League and National First Division sides. Hhohho will be represented by Kappa Kappa, while Richmond Aces are set to wear the colours of Lubombo.

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