The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Executive Committee headed by Ezulwini United’s boss Polycarp Dlamini is full of praise for all the 16 clubs competing in the MTN Premier League for their good showing in the recently-concluded first round matches.
A glance at the current Premier League log standings shows that the first round was fierce competition and very unpredictable, which explains why it had to go down to the wire before the eventual winners were decided.
It is apparent that the battle for the ultimate prize is very much on and open such that it would be a mistake to make any prediction given that mathematically, even the club at the bottom of the current standings could be crowned champions, come the end of the season.
The point difference between the club at the top and bottom is too marginal and that has created the competitive spirit we witness week in and out. It is in that spirit that the current Sihlangu head-coach will be spoilt for choice when picking his players for the upcoming national fixture against Eritrea on March 25, this year in Ethiopia under the 2027 AFCON Qualifiers. This is especially true given that our opponents currently have no stadium to host such games hence the fixture has been moved to a neutral venue.
This clearly should work to Sihlangu’s advantage because they won’t have to deal with the home crowd, which can be very intimidating for any visiting side.
It is expected that the curtain will fall on the first round matches this weekend and what an exciting battle it has been to watch.
Manzini Sea Birds and Ezulwini United deserve huge praise for showing courageous performances never witnessed since their foundation and it would be fair to say that they have outdone themselves and exceeded expectations.
After all, they have already shown great character in the field of play against the very best in our Premier League and this has without doubt given their followers renewed hope that they might still re-write the history books in this season’s campaign.
What makes this event more interesting is the fact that even when you take a look at the other side of the table, the relegation battle is not done and dusted yet.
A lot of things could still happen in the second round matches and we are all looking forward to this round with great anticipation. I am sure a lot of people have observed that this time around, there are no underdogs in the league hence undermine your opponent at your own peril.
Judging by what we witnessed in the first round, it is clear that all the clubs are ready and prepared to die with their boots on in the field of play and this has created a vibrant league competition. This is not just in the field of play but even in the stands as well because supporters are creating a carnival atmosphere during games.
So, the PLE chairman is extending his greatest appreciation to all football stakeholders for their massive efforts in order to make the first round such a success story. The PLE boss further reiterated their happiness about the partnership with MTN Eswatini, which he believes, will go a long way in making MTN business bigger and better in particular because each and every department in the company has done remarkable work in developing Premier League football.
To Nsingizini Hotspurs, bravo because it is normally not easy to finish the MTN Premier League as first round champions because to achieve, you need courage, discipline, hard work, streetwise administration and have general good planners.
These are attributes I am sure most people would agree are aligned with Nsingizini this season as they have given all games they have played respect and all the matches have been treated as a final.
History has shown that for one to win the league, you should not throw away valuable points especially in winnable games just because some people decided not to be serious.
Credit must be given to MTN for always being innovative in terms of marketing these games and the branding around the stadium, which one must say, has been eye-catching. We can only say good luck to all the clubs as they gear up for the second round matches.
