Venue: Mavuso Sports Centre
Kick-off: 4:15 pm
It will be a different Mbabane Swallows with six regular starters away in the national team Sihlangu Semnikati camp.
These are midfielder Leon ‘Chester’ Manyisa, defenders Siphosethu Mabilisa and Newman Philiso, forward Ayanda Gadlela and first-choice goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela.
This will leave coach Caleb Ngwenya with the chance to test new combinations against the elite newcomers Sisonkhe from the Manzini Regional Football Association (MRFA).
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The minnows should feel motivated to face Swallows without these stars.
The two sides have only met once before, history indicates. This was in the Ingwenyama Cup and Swallows won the clash.
The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League envoys should be able to dust aside Sisonkhe with the players they have behind with the likes of Captain Kingsley Kwakyi, Sifiso Mabila, Sizolwethu ‘Nunu’ Shabalala, Given Lukhele and Bongi ‘Karas’ Magagula expected to lead.
Swallows still have South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns to face in the second preliminary round of the Champions League in about a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, Swallows were the runners-up last year to Green Mamba and will want to better that now.
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So, with the sponsor 8 Bet mostly renowned for the Aviator, will the Beautiful Birds of Mbabane fly away with it or will it be Moneni?
Whatever the case, it will still be ‘flew away’ for one of the teams after 90 or so minutes. If not, the dreaded penalty shootout will ensure one stays on the plane and that it’s definitely flown away for one.
