By Chris DlaminiÂ
IT definitely will be an interesting season in 2024/25 after Nsingizini Hotspurs edged giants Mbabane Swallows 1-0 to be crowned champions in South Africa.
‘Insingizi Yezulu’ took the crown for the Red Card For GBV Soccer Tournament after a solitary second-half goal by Neliso Myeni. Swallows had won the preseason tournament featuring third-tier teams from South Africa last year.
However, this time, Nsingizini claimed the title with former Swallows midfielder and MTN Premier League Player of the Season, Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini on the pitch for the champions on Saturday.
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It was the first time Tiger played against his former teammates ahead of the new season.
Meanwhile, the teams had gone to the break goalless. It was only midway through the second half that Nsingizini broke the deadlock. Swallows had already started with an early red card after trusted defender Kingsley Kwakyi fouled ‘Tiger’.Â
The win will be motivating for Insingizi Yezulu ahead of facing South Africa’s Betway Premiership side, Stellenbosch in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round on August 17 at Moses Mabhida Stadium for the first leg. Swallows, on the other hand, are preparing for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League first preliminary round home and away matches against Mozambique rivals Ferroviaro da Beira.
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Meanwhile, Nsingizini had beaten the host country’s Middelburg 2-1 in the first semi-final while Umkhonto KaShaka had to go through the dreaded penalty shootout to see off Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in the second semi-final with a 5-4 win. It was 1-1 at regular time.
The two Eswatini Confederation of African Football (CAF) envoys may meet again next weekend in the Hospice Charity Cup, which also has Mbabane Highlanders this year and Moneni Pirates.
