Barely 9 months after elite soccer league was suspended in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this past weekend had the elite MTN Premier League 2020/2021 season begin with a bang while the MTN National First Division is still on the shades.
Although starting with some minor glitches, the resumption of the football season brought some exhilaration and enthusiasm among fans across various Facebook and WhatsApp soccer groups in the country.
Two games however were cancelled due to some technicalities among teams. The first game called off on Saturday at Mhlume was a match between Libhakajuju LaseMoneni (Moneni Pirates) against Bogandaganda (Mhlume Peacemakers). It was alleged that most of the Moneni Pirates players were dictated of high temperatures yet to be latter suspected rather revealed that Pirates had no fully registered squad.
Yesterday at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium, a clash between Manzini Sea Birds and Piggs Peak Black Swallows was abandoned after it was alleged that Black Swallows reported late for the game.
Draws
Most of the past weekend highly anticipated games ended in draws which left most of the fans unable to brag about their teams especailly the the Big Three as their fans believe that these teams will this season dominant local tuornaments.
At Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday was a double header. At 1 pm was the Manzini derby, Denver Sundowns hosting Manzini Wanderers. The game ended a 2-2 draw with Liweseli scoring with Majahasibili Ndlovu and Fabrice Mopina. The Kappa Boys had a brace from Siyabonga.
This game was followed by a clash between last season’s champions Amathole Ezinyathi and league runners-up Umkhonto KaShaka. This game which was also live streamed in MTN Yello Hub and it ended in a barren draw.
Another tricky fixture was played at Nhlangano where Mbabane Highlanders locked horns with Royal Leopards at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium. This game was played to a 2-2 draw.
Ingwe Emabalabala had a brace from former Mbabane Swallows and Mbabane Highlanders industrious striker Thabiso Mokekoane while Sabelo Sawa Gamedze and former Mbombela United and Mbabane Swallows striker Sabelo Ndzinisa scored for Inkunzi Emnyama.
Green Mamba and Milling Hotspurs played a 1-1 draw on Saturday while Tambuti FC thrashed Tambankulu Callies 3-0. New comers Tinyosi FC beat Malanti Chiefs 2-0.
15 Goals Scored
Fifteen goals were scored this past weekend in the opening MTN Premier League games. Tambuti FC scored most of the goals as it scored 3 goals in their match against Callies.
Most teams scored two goals with only Young Buffaloes and Mbabane Swallows playing without a goal. Teams that scored a brace are:
- Tinyosi FC
- Manzini Wandreres
- Denver Sundows
- Mbabane Highlanders and
- Royal leopard
Green Mamba and Milling Hotspurs however scored a single goal against each other on Saturday.
Top Scorers
Top of the scoring charts so far is Dever Sundowns’ Siyabonga and Royal Leopards Thabiso Mokekoane. Siyabonga scored a brace against Manzini Wanderers while Mokekoane hit the back of the net twice against Mbabane Highlanders yesterday.
Next Fixture
The next fixture of MTN Premier League games allegedly to be played mid-week next week has some interesting fixtures again.
One of the interesting fixtures is a clash between Mbabane Swallows and Manzini Wanderers. Both teams have recruited players from each other and rivalry has been brewing over the past seasons.
Mbabane Swallows has signed Leon Manyisa from the “Maroon and White” ensemble white Wanderers has secured some worthy signatures from ex-Mbabane Swallows players.
These players include Siboniso Ndzabandzaba, Siphamandla Dlamini and Richard McCreesh who played this past weekend against Denver Sundows. Mncedisi Dlamini from the Birds is also on the radar of Liweseli.
Fans may also be fascinated by the police side clash between Green Mamba and Royal Leopards. A clash between Bogandaganda and Kappa Boys is also not a game not lose interest on.
Young Buffaloes however will be hosting AS Vita in the CAF Champions league this weekend at Mavuso Sports Centre.
MTN YELLO HUB LIVE STREAM
This is a live stream platform initiated by MTN Eswatini as she is the one sponsoring MTN Premier Legaue. Speaking on the national radio on Friday morning, MTN Manager Meshack Maseko said Yello Hub will help fans watch their teams in the meantime they are not allowed to go into stadiums and watch them.
Maseko said fans need to visit https://www.mtn.yellohub.co.sz/football/live/ to register. He said they must register their MTN numbers which they will be able to use to pay subscription fees using their Mobile Money.
When does live streaming of games begins?
It actually began over the weekend. The game between Mbabane Swallows and Young Buffaloes was live streamed free of charge. Maseko said this was done to promote the Yello Hub. Going forward, fans will have to pay certain fees which has been still not be revealed.
How many fans watched?
There are no official statistics that have been sourced from MTN Eswatini so far. As being part of those who live streamed the game yesterday, the numbers were very low despite the live stream being free of charge yesterday.
How many games are live streamed in a single sport day?
Yesterday, only a single match was live streamed. It is still unknown how many games in sport day MTN will be able to live stream in future. Maseko however mentioned on Friday that fans will also need to rely on Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Service for the broadcast of other games.
Any challenges
Fans commenting randomly about the live stream in Soccer Laduma Eswatini WhatsApp group alluded the visual quality saying it was impressing.
They also showed some disappointment however. Beside panicking about their data, some fans who watched said it kept on freezing now and again.
Soccer Channel Eswatini 