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The name Manzini Wanderers carries a weight of history and expectation in Eswatini football.
They are not merely a club; they are a founding pillar of the MTN Premier League, a source of fierce pride for their ‘Weslians’ faithful and a symbol of what the domestic game can achieve. Yet, just three games into the 2025/26 season, that celebrated name is now associated not with glory, but with a sudden, alarming vulnerability. The maroon and white outfit are not just struggling; they are, quite simply, living dangerously, and the clock on their self-inflicted crisis is already ticking loudly.
To understand the current malaise, one must rewind to the entire 2024/25 season-a year spent, not on the pitch asserting their prowess, but in courtrooms battling against relegation. That legal fight was won, granting them a reprieve and their desired place back among the elite.
That victory, however, appears to have been a futile one. The expectation following such a protracted, existential struggle was not merely that they would survive, but that they would return with renewed vigour, a statement of intent and a fierce desire to prove their Premier League legitimacy beyond any doubt. The message to their critics was supposed to be: ‘We belong here’.
Instead, the opening fixtures have delivered a harsh, brutal reality check. Three games have yielded zero victories and a staggering eight dropped points. Dropping three points in a league campaign is a setback; losing eight in the first 270 minutes of action is a catastrophic warning sign. This initial haul puts them immediately into the dreaded lower bracket, mentally and statistically aligning them with the very teams they should be dominating. They fought so hard for a seat at the table, only to spill their first meal all over the floor.
The recent 0-2 loss to minnows Rangers FC is arguably the most damning result of this early campaign. While no team should be underestimated, for a club of Wanderers’ stature, the ‘big three’ narrative still clings to them, failing to breach the defence of, and ultimately succumbing to, a side like Rangers is deeply humiliating. Coupled with the inability to overcome other small or average opponents such as Malanti Chiefs, these results raise not just questions, but sirens.
It suggests that the problem is not merely bad luck or a tactical misfire; it points to a deep-seated deficiency in quality, character or both.
Historically, the foundation of any successful Premier League campaign, particularly for former giants, is securing maximum points against the mid-table and lower-tier opposition. It is these six-point swings- the difference between a win and a loss against potential relegation rivals- that ultimately dictate survival. By failing this fundamental test immediately, Wanderers have become the easy points source, effectively inviting other teams to feast upon their storied name.
The root cause, as painfully apparent to any observer, lies in the rebuilding phase forced upon them by their year in the wilderness. The management team had an unenviable task: Reconstitute a Premier League-ready squad under a cloud of uncertainty. While the logistical challenge is acknowledged, there is simply no denying the fatal conclusion: Wanderers did not sign quality players worthy of the Wanderers brand.
The current roster lacks the bite, the creativity, and, critically, the steel required for the Premier League grind. The Wanderers brand demands players of technical excellence, yes, but also players who can wear the badge with the necessary pride and fortitude to perform under intense pressure.
The new recruits appear to be journeymen, adequate perhaps for a mid-table outfit, but woefully short of the calibre needed to pull a legacy club out of a hole and back into contention. The transfer market is a meritocracy, and Wanderers’ business seems to have been driven by necessity and budget, rather than a commitment to elite performance. They have sacrificed quality for quantity, and are now paying the immediate, heavy price.
If the struggles against Rangers and Malanti Chiefs are troubling, the prospects of facing the fellow ‘big guns’ and the rigid security forces sides are genuinely terrifying. This is where the vulnerabilities will be ruthlessly exposed. These teams are defined by their discipline, tactical rigidity and unparalleled physical fitness. They represent the peak of professionalism in the league. Wanderers, currently exhibiting signs of tactical incoherence and fragility, will be run ragged and systematically dismantled by such opposition. The lack of quality depth means that if key players are injured or exhausted, there is no one of equal measure to fill the void, leaving them vulnerable to clean, clinical defeats.
The current Wanderers squad has already demonstrated a lack of fight and mental fortitude against lesser opposition.
While the first registration window is closed – a debilitating strategic error that leaves the management’s hands tied until January – the club must enact a shake-up immediately to avert disaster. The luxury of time has vanished.
The assurance to hire a new coach must be executed yesterday. Delays are now measured in potential relegation points. Appoint the new coach within the next 72 hours. The new man must be handed a mandate for immediate, short-term tactical results, not a long-term project. While adapting to a new philosophy takes time, the new coach must focus on simplifying the tactical approach. Prioritise defensive solidity (zero-tolerance for defensive errors) and pragmatic counter-attacking football. Fancy, possession-based football is a luxury a struggling team cannot afford. The immediate goal is to stop conceding and start grinding out draws or narrow wins.
The coach must be bold. Identify the 11 players who possess the most fight and discipline, even if they are not the most technically gifted. This is a time for warriors, not artists. The only immediate avenue for recruitment is the signing of free agents, especially those released from security forces teams. These players often possess the necessary fitness, discipline and understanding of the Premier League’s physical demands, making them ideal, low-risk, immediate impact signings. The scouting department must focus solely on this specific, narrow pool until January.
If underlying issues, be they related to internal politics or management structure, are derailing the team’s progress, the time for obfuscation is over. These issues need to be addressed internally, ruthlessly and immediately. The atmosphere around the team must be one of unity and singular focus on survival. Anything less is a betrayal of the badge and the fans.
Manzini Wanderers won the war to stay in the Premier League off the field, but they are rapidly losing the battle on it. This is not just a poor start; it is a rapid descent into the exact scenario they fought so hard to avoid. The danger is real, the pressure is immense and the fixtures will only get tougher.
The Premier League is an unforgiving environment, and teams that struggle initially often become psychologically vulnerable to the chop, finding themselves unable to escape the downward spiral. For Wanderers, failing to beat small teams is not a temporary blip; it is the early marker of a terminal disease.
The next few weeks will define their season. Will the ‘Weslians’ hierarchy act with the urgency this crisis demands, bringing in the coaching staff and technical adjustments necessary to stabilise the ship? Or will they allow sentiment and procrastination to condemn the team to another year of misery, potentially culminating in the sporting demotion they only just avoided in court?
The ball is firmly in the club’s court. They must stop living dangerously and start fighting for their future – or that revered Wanderers name will soon become synonymous with failure.
Manzini Wanderers new players (L-R) Pius Baffour, Sizolwethu Mvoti, Jamine Mario and Sikhumbuzo Mazibuko during their unveiling at the club’s offices. The opening fixtures have delivered a harsh, brutal reality check for Wanderers. (Pic: File)