MBABANE – Mbabane Highlanders, Royal Leopard and Moneni Pirates have officially been knocked out of the E120 000 first-round incentive race.
Nsingizini Hotspurs’ emphatic 4–0 demolition of Manzini Wanderers took them to 25 points, a tally that mathematically shut the door on eight sides chasing the first-round carrot.
It is this milestone that confirms the early first-round picture, with a number of traditional heavyweights left short. Highlanders and Moneni Pirates played out a 0–0 draw on Sunday, a result that dented both teams’ hopes, while Leopard were also held to a goalless stalemate by Rangers.
Leopard’s exit is particularly notable, having been first-round winners last season, in a campaign that ultimately ended with only Nsingizini Hotspurs lifting the league title.
They are joined outside the ‘carrot’ race by Malanti Chiefs, Amawele, Sisonkhe, Ubombo Sugar and Manzini Wanderers.
Over the weekend, Amawele drew 0-0 with Mbabane Swallows; Sisonkhe lost 1-0 to Ezulwini; Malanti Chiefs fell 2-0 to Green Mamba; Ubombo Sugar were beaten 3-1 by Tabankulu; while Wanderers suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of Hotspurs.
With 12 matches played, the standings underline the gap. Malanti Chiefs sit ninth on 15 points; Royal Leopards and Mbabane Highlanders are both on 14; Moneni Pirates have 13; Amawele are on 12 and Sisonkhe have accumulated 10.
Ubombo Sugar and Manzini Wanderers are on nine and six points, in that order. Even if each of these teams were to win their next three matches and collect a maximum nine points.
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