MBABANE – The glitz and gold of the Mbabane Highlanders AM era is currently being overshadowed by the grim reality of a relegation dogfight.
When South Africa’s renowned businesswoman Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize was officially unveiled as Club President in July 2025, following the expulsion of her South African side Royal AM, the mission was clear: Modernisation and a return to glory. However, as the 2025/26 MTN Premier League enters its twilight, the ‘Black Bull’ are stumbling toward the pit.
Following a goalless draw against bottom-placed Manzini Wanderers this past weekend, the capital City giants find themselves in 11th position, a precarious two points above the drop zone. With only 11 games remaining, the ‘MaMkhize’ magic appears to be fading. The club has managed a solitary victory in 2026, which was a 2-0 win over Amawele back on January 24. They have struggled to find any semblance of rhythm since.
The statistics make for painful reading for the Highlanders faithful. The club currently sits 18 points adrift of pace-setters Nsingizini Hotspurs. Any lingering hopes of clinching a first Premier League title since 2001 have evaporated, replaced by the mathematical anxiety of a four-team relegation threat. In a brutal season for the elite, three teams face automatic demotion, while the side finishing 12th must navigate a nerve-wracking play-off to preserve its top-flight status.
Despite the high-profile appointment of former Kaizer Chiefs shot-stopper Brilliant Khuzwayo as Team Manager earlier this year, results on the pitch remain stagnant. The squad boasts significant international pedigree, headlined by the gifted former Royal AM winger Sphiwe Cele, yet the collective spark is missing. Management has frequently lamented a bloated injury list and untimely suspensions, with several key personnel still sidelined with long-term knocks.
‘MaMkhize’, who took over under a three-year contract following a brief ownership dispute with Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane, rebranded the historic club to include the ‘AM’ suffix and integrated Royal AM’s signature gold into the traditional black and white kit. While the aesthetic has changed, the results have not. If the ‘Black Bull’ cannot arrest this slump immediately, one of Eswatini’s most storied institutions faces the very real prospect of a catastrophic exit from the Premier League for the first time since 2013.
HIGHLANDERS’ LAST FIVE MATCHES:
Highlanders 0-0 Wanderers
Nsingizini 2-4 Highlanders
Highlanders 0-0 Sea Birds
Amawele 0-2 Highlanders
Highlanders 2-2 Green Mamba
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