SOCCER – THE MTN Premier League has reached its fifth week and the campaign has already produced more twists and turns than a prime-time soap opera.
Surprise packages are rising, giants are stumbling and a new order seems to be emerging. What began as a predictable race has become a thrillingly open competition, where underdogs such as Manzini Sea Birds, Malanti Chiefs, Rangers and Ezulwini United continue to punch above their weight, while traditional heavyweights like Royal Leopard and Manzini Wanderers grapple with form and identity.
Five weeks into the MTN Premier League and one truth stands clear – there are no certainties anymore. Every club, from the giants to the newcomers, has something to fight for and something to prove.
Malanti and Ezulwini’s unbeaten runs show that heart and structure can outshine reputation. Sea Birds’ rise to the top underlines the power of belief and preparation. On the flip side, Wanderers’ slump and Leopard’s struggles remind everyone that football, like life, rewards those who adapt fastest.
As the league heads into the FIFA break, one cannot help but feel that this season will go down as one of the most fiercely contested in recent memory. Every weekend tells a new story and every result reshapes the narrative.
For now, fans can only sit back and enjoy the beautiful chaos that is the MTN Premier League 2025/2026 – a competition as colourful, unpredictable and captivating as the country itself.
1. MALANTI, EZULWINI
REMAIN THE INVINCIBLES
Five matches in, and the only two clubs yet to taste defeat are Malanti Chiefs and Ezulwini United. Malanti, freshly promoted, are proving that their top-flight return is no fluke. Their 1-all draw against Mbabane Highlanders at a sold-out Killarney Stadium was another show of grit, organisation and tactical discipline. Isaac Yeboah’s superb 10th-minute strike and a commanding defensive performance kept the ‘Bull’ at bay for long spells.
Malanti have now collected nine points from a possible 15, two wins and three draws – and boast the kind of consistency many established clubs would envy.
Their rise is built on collective effort rather than individual stardom. Head coach Streten Paviovic deserves credit for moulding a resilient, fearless side that has quickly become everyone’s second favourite team.
Ezulwini, on the other hand, have been the model of quiet efficiency.
Their 1–0 victory over Mbabane Swallows at Mavuso Sports Centre proved that they can mix it with the best. With a balanced team featuring solid defending, sharp counters and composed finishing, Ezulwini sit comfortably in the top half of the table with eight points from four matches.
Together, these two sides embody the early-season romance of football – newcomers and outsiders who dare to dream big.
2. RECORD CROWD TURNS
KILLARNEY GOLD, BLACK
Week Five also delivered a milestone for local football as Killarney Stadium hosted what is widely regarded as a record crowd for a single football match in this small as a mustard seed venue. The Malanti versus Highlanders clash saw all 700 pre-sold tickets snapped up well before kick-off, with additional tickets sold at the gates as fans clamoured to witness the spectacle. In the stands, it was a carnival atmosphere – flags waving, vuvuzelas blaring and chants echoing through the small but busy as a beehive Pigg’s Peak as supporters transformed the small stadium into a cauldron of noise.
The game itself lived up to the billing: an intense 1–1 draw that kept fans on their feet. Highlanders’ coach Ernest Mavuso later described the pitch as “a challenge,” acknowledging that Malanti were better adapted to their home turf.
More importantly, the full house proved that regional interest in Premier League football remains alive. It also reignited calls for improved stadium infrastructure outside the main cities to accommodate the growing appetite for top-flight football.
3. SEA BIRDS HAVE COME OF AGE
Manzini Sea Birds’ demolition of Manzini Wanderers in the mini-Manzini derby was not just a statement – it was a declaration. The 4–0 hammering at Simunye’s Goshe Szokolay Stadium showed that Friday Myeni’s men have matured into a disciplined, confident unit capable of dismantling even the most experienced and big sides.
Mayibongwe ‘Suarez’ Mabuza’s opening goal set the tone, followed quickly by Muzi Tsabedze’s composed finish. Philani Mkhonto and an own goal by Wanderers’ Linda Msibi completed the rout, leaving the ‘Weslians’ shell-shocked.
The victory elevated Sea Birds to joint-top of the log on 10 points, alongside Green Mamba, with both teams winning three of their opening five matches. Coach Myeni revealed afterwards that his team had studied Wanderers’ weaknesses meticulously, particularly their fitness levels and defensive shape.
“We were a bit afraid of Wanderers,” he said, “but I told my players to pin them high and score early – and it worked perfectly.”
Their play now combines tactical intelligence with attacking flair and with confidence sky-high, they look like genuine title contenders. The big secret, however, is that the majority of this squad has been together for a long time.
4. LEOPARD STRUGGLING, SISONKHE STILL WINLESS
At the other end of the spectrum, Royal Leopard’s fall from grace continues to puzzle many. Once the dominant force in the league, eight MTN Premier League crowns in the past 20 seasons, the police outfit appears to have lost their sting. Their 3–0 home defeat to Tabankulu Celtics was their third loss in four games, leaving them languishing in 12th place with only four points.
Leopard’s defence, previously their hallmark, has become alarmingly porous, with more holes than Swiss cheese and conceding seven goals in just four matches.
There are whispers that the side is in transition, but the magnitude of their decline suggests deeper issues – perhaps fatigue from years of dominance and their recent short-as-sneeze CAF Confederation Cup appearance or a lack of creative spark in midfield.
Meanwhile, Sisonkhe remain rooted to the bottom of the table, still searching for their first point after five matches. Their 5–1 thrashing at the hands of Young Buffaloes was their heaviest defeat yet. Conceding 16 goals already, their defence has been more of a revolving door than a barrier.
If drastic improvement does not come soon, Sisonkhe risk being cut adrift before the halfway point.
5. WANDERERS’ WINLESS STREAK BECOMING A CRISIS
No story this week stirred as much debate as Manzini Wanderers’ ongoing struggles. Once among the nation’s most glamorous clubs, the ‘Weslians’ now find themselves in unfamiliar territory – second from bottom, without a single win after five matches.
Their 4–0 humiliation by Sea Birds exposed systemic problems that go beyond tactics. Coach Gcina Dlamini’s decision to field six defenders in the mini-Manzini derby backfired spectacularly, leaving his midfield overrun and attack toothless. He admitted afterwards: “We were defeated, not broken, but on the pitch, we looked like a faulty toy car.”
Wanderers have scored only three goals while conceding 10 – a damning statistic for a team that once prided itself on attacking football. The fans, long known for their unwavering loyalty, are growing restless. The club’s leadership faces a tough balancing act: maintaining faith in Dlamini’s rebuilding project while finding urgent solutions before morale collapses completely.
6. NO BIG TEAMS – THE RACE IS WIDE OPEN
If Week Five proved anything, it is that the MTN Premier League no longer belongs to the so-called ‘Big Three’ or the three armed forces teams. Though it is still early days, the first five rounds have been remarkably even. Sea Birds, Green Mamba, Malanti Chiefs, Swallows and Rangers are all within touching distance at the summit. Highlanders and Ezulwini United are not far behind, while even mid-table sides like Moneni Pirates and Tabankulu Celtics have shown they can topple anyone on their day.
The results chart reads like a pendulum: Highlanders beating Sea Birds, Swallows losing to Ezulwini and Leopard losing to Celtics. The unpredictability adds spice to every fixture, ensuring fans can no longer pencil in easy wins for the traditional giants. With just three points separating the top seven teams, the title race is anyone’s to claim. Expect more surprises after the FIFA break.
7. ‘MAMKHIZE’ – THE LEAGUE’S EVER-PRESENT FORCE
Beyond the football itself, one constant presence continues to light up the MTN Premier League and that is Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize. The Mbabane Highlanders AM president has become an emblem of ambition and empowerment.
Her influence extends far beyond her club’s results – she is a symbol of modern football leadership blending business acumen, charisma, sports tourism and community spirit.
Last week, ‘MaMkhize’ visited the Pigg’s Peak Town Council ahead of her team’s first visit to Killarney Stadium in over three years and Manzini Central High School to motivate pupils ahead of their final exams. “Life is about competition. Even though I come from a male-dominated space, I am bulldozing wherever I go, clearing the way and creating space for others,” she told scholars.
