Expensively assembled Nsingizini Hotspurs devoured at KaLanga Technical Centre by uncompromising Red Lions; legendary but sickle-as-a-parrot Mbabane Highlanders dehorned by unfancied Lozitha Spurs,
the Ingwenyama Cup has lived up to the romantic biblical storyline of lardy Goliaths fell by the stone of the little Davids in just its opening round.
Even when the Manzini Wanderers case at the High Court, in which the hub giants were seeking inclusion in this year’s edition, threatened to derail proceedings, poetic justice was served when the tournament was allowed to go on without any distractions, with the maroon and white outfit left to lick their gashing wounds.
What happens with Wanderers now is a story for another day.
But Ingwenyama Cup’s razzmatazz, pomp and glamour took centre stage in various stadia around the country leavingsoccer lovers yearning for more.
Then there was the smallernyana matter of what is turning out to be a big blot in our football copybook, the muti saga, which truth be told has reached shocking levels.
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Masundvwini Royal Swallows defender Bongani ‘Smally’ Dlamini suffered a medical scare during the Last 16-stage clash against Green Mamba after an unfortunate collision with a teammate leading to the player hallucinating and losing his senses at Manzini Club.
We have had other strange illnesses recently which have opened a can of worms on the archaic muti beliefs in our football whichhave done nothing but drag our football down to the cesspit of everything that cannot be scientifically proven.
Everyone is entitled to have his or her own beliefs but if these muti rituals worked so much, why hasn’t any African country won the FIFA World Cup?
Therein lies the rub.
All these things make a mockery of our football where club owners would rather pay a muti man handsomely but fail to pay players salaries or get them the basics of playing football.
These archaic beliefs must stop. It makes a mockery of our football and chases potential sponsors away.
Muti usage and all have not drowned the excitement and razzmatazz associated with the richest tournament in the land.
Who would have thought Nsingizini Hotspurs with all they have in their arsenal can go down to Red Rhinos?
Unthinkable.
What about Mbabane Highlanders right royale beating from the unfancied Lozitha Spurs?
What a story and what a result!
This year’s edition has really gave us something to talk about in the very opening of the tournament. Then there were 16.
They don’t come any bigger than the security forces derby – Green Mamba versus Royal Leopard.
Their coaches, Ernest Mavuso for Green Mamba and Edwin Matsebula for Leopard really had a go at each other in the press conference during the draw.
Mavuso expressed determination to secure a victory against the police side.
“Royal Leopard have improved a lot and they have been scoring goals, which means they are dangerous. We will not undermine them. We will go all out as want to defend our title.
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This is a knockout tournament and at this stage, someone must go home. I am pretty sure that we are not the ones to exit this tournament.
We will do everything to beat Royal Leopard and proceed to the next round,” was a missive from the defending champions coach, Mavuso.
Matsebula was adamant this was their time to shine.
“The tournament has not favoured us for a long time, and we now have a chance to turn misfortune into good results,” the soft-spoken Matsebula said.
If the two teams show the same intensity as their coaches’ words, we are in for a scintillating match.
Then you have the Moneni Pirates and Rangers clash which is likely to keep fans at King Sobhuza II stadium on the edges of their seats throughout.
The Moneni Buccaneers hit Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows for a six.
The quarter-finals, just like the opening round, promise to be another humdinger where we can expect a glut of goals, drama and shocking results.
Ingwenyama Cup……..Take charge, the goal is your recovery!
May the best teams win
