MBABANE – The 8Bet Trade Fair Cup starts today, but Green Mamba still do not know who they will face on Tuesday.
As the knockout tournament gets underway, Green Mamba are scheduled to play their last 16 match at Mavuso Sports Centre on Tuesday at 5pm.
They were originally drawn against Red Rhinos, but the fixture has been thrown into uncertainty by Manzini Wanderers’ attempt to acquire Red Rhinos’ Premier League status.
The matter is expected to be addressed by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) today during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Hilton Garden Inn, with the outcome potentially determining whether Green Mamba face Red Rhinos or Wanderers.
Wanderers were relegated from the MTN Premier League last season after finishing bottom, while Red Rhinos secured promotion to the elite league after winning the MulaSport National First Division.
The ‘Weslians’ subsequently pursued a deal to acquire Red Rhinos’ Premier League status in an attempt to remain in the top flight.
The proposed status transfer has created uncertainty around Green Mamba’s 8Bet Trade Fair Cup fixture because Red Rhinos were the club included in the original draw.
It is worth noting that Manzini Wanderers are not mentioned in the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup Rules and Regulations in relation to this fixture. Instead, Red Rhinos are specifically named in the tournament documentation as Green Mamba’s opponents.
This adds another layer to the uncertainty, as any change to the identity of Green Mamba’s opponents would have to be reconciled with the existing tournament regulations and the outcome of the status dispute.
The delay has been linked to the administrative process surrounding the status transfer, with Wanderers awaiting formal guidance and documentation from the football authorities.
Wanderers Communications Manager Sandile ‘Ntofo’ Dlamini previously said the club had submitted the necessary correspondence and was waiting for the matter to be finalised. He also indicated that nothing official had reached the club’s offices confirming the outcome.
Green Mamba CEO Ntuthuko Dlamini said the club had been preparing specifically for Red Rhinos and were not allowing the boardroom developments to distract the team.
“We have been preparing for Red Rhinos, so what is happening in the boardroom does not affect us,” Dlamini said.
However, when asked what would happen if Wanderers were granted the status at today’s EFA AGM, Dlamini acknowledged that Green Mamba would have to adjust.
“If Wanderers are given the status, then we will have to alter our preparations and plan around Wanderers,” he said.
For now, Green Mamba remain focused on Tuesday’s knockout assignment, while the EFA’s decision could determine whether their preparations remain intact or have to be adjusted at short notice.
The situation also comes as Green Mamba prepare for their CAF Confederation Cup campaign, where they will face Angolan giants CD Primeiro de Agosto.
The Correctional Services side therefore face a busy period, balancing its domestic cup campaign with continental football.
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