Cup finals by their nature are unpredictable affairs; this one not only has the unpredictability aspect but has all the ingredients of a thriller rolled into one.
Malanti Chiefs and Green Mamba meet in a Cup final for the first time ever on New Year’s Day at the Somhlolo National Stadium, kick-off at 16h30.
Both sides have been in three previous Cup finals in the elite league. Green Mamba’s last Cup final appearance was the 2005 SwaziBank Cup where they thumped Manzini Sundowns 5-1, whilst Malanti Chiefs won the self-same SwaziBank Cup in 2008 beating hot favourites Royal Leopard 2-1 in a tense final watched by over 10 000 fans at the country’s soccer Mecca, Somhlolo National Stadium.
Both sides have not had an easy road to the finals and the mere fact that this is the unlikeliest Cup final bears testimony to the two sides’ never-say-die spirit and their ability not to be overawed by their more illustrious opponents.
With the semi final pairing dishing out a Green Mamba versus Mbabane Swallows clash and Manzini Wanderers against modest Malanti Chiefs, many soccer fans predicted a dream Cup final – Wanderers vs Swallows. But it wasn’t to be as Malanti Chiefs dismantled Wanderers 4-2 and Green Mamba licked Swallows 1-0.
Central to Malanti Chiefs amazing journey to the final has been the mesmerizing form of former South Africa Kaizer Chiefs’ striker, Sibusiso ‘Spoko’ Dlamini, who has re-discovered the form that made him the toast of the ‘Amakhosi’, and his combination with the free-scoring Nhlanhla ‘Mshengu’ Kunene has proven to be the pain in the flesh of many opposition team’s defences.
If ‘Spoko’ has been a revelation, Green Mamba striker, Muntu Mamba’s goal scoring exploits have made him the player to watch in the Francis ‘Mkhulu’ Banda’s tough-as-teak charges. His attacking prowess with the fast running, Welile Maseko, who runs as if he eats air, has caused so much havoc to many team’s defences this season.
Over 10 000 fans are expected to cram the Somhlolo National Stadium to watch the new FixedFone Cup Champions being crowned and taking home a cheque of E500 000.
The day promises to be one to remember with two of the country’s big sides, Manzini Wanderers and Mbabane Swallows facing off in the Third Place Play-off, which carries a prize cheque of E140 000.
South Africa’s Mbaqanga group, Soul Brothers, will provide the fans with entertainment immediately after the ZTE Final, pitting Mhlambanyatsi Rovers against Sea Birds at 11h00. The triple header will surely draw soccer fans to the Somhlolo National Stadium like moths to a flame!