MBABANE – The MoMo Cup 2023 championship will be settled next Sunday, October 8, at Mavuso Sports Centre.
This was announced by the tournament sponsor’s representative Mxolisi Dlamini, before the draw involving defending champions Nsingizini Hotspurs, last season’s runners-up Moneni Pirates, newbies in the National First Division (NFD) League, Lozitha Spurs as well as giants Mbabane Swallows yesterday at Sigwaca House.
“Nsingizini Hotspurs will fight to defend it, but we’re definitely playing to finality on October 8, from morning until the final at 4pm,” he said.
Mxolisi thanked all teams for voting, the peaceful and enjoyable play-offs last weekend, while appealing for same ahead of the finals next Sunday.
“Tickets will be available as soon as the fixture is out in 24 hours from now (yesterday) at E50 in MoMo Marketplace and E60 at the gate. Buy them as early as possible to avoid paying more,” Dlamini said.
Reiterated
The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Makhanya also reiterated Mxolisi’s words and added that gates will open at 7am as the first match will start at 9am and second game at 11am before the final at 4pm. “Let’s move on to our draw. Otherwise, our remaining teams will also be in new branded kits next week as we’ve had to postpone from this Sunday to next week because there was a clash of times with another big national event, the Imbube Marathon,” Makhanya said.
The draw was conducted by the media personnel this time around as opposed to the PLE and Tournament Public Relations Officer (PRO) Thabiso Manyatsi. Times of Eswatini Sports Senior Writer and Weekend Sports Editor Chris Dlamini and Eswatini Observer’s Siphosethu Dlamini did the honours in the teams’ presence, but Moneni Pirates. The two home teams were first drawn out of the pot and these were Nsingizini and Lozitha Spurs. Their rivals were then drawn, and the attending club representatives could be seen with changing faces, with curiosity clearly playing itself out. Nsingizini’s rivals were pulled out it turned out they would go head-to-head with Pirates, who will look to avenge the inaugural final 2-1 extra-time defeat.
It then became obvious, but for formality sake, Swallows was drawn as the last away team to face the NFD debutants, Spurs. The latter are a tricky side as they come from the Manzini Super League, but have talented players and a bit of elite experience led by ex-Mbabane Highlanders versatile midfielder Ndumiso ‘Sikhokho’ Shongwe, know better about their elite rivals than they do them. “This is it. This is our draw for the final day of the tournament. One must congratulate the teams that won the play-offs but mostly Nsingizini Hotspurs and Moneni Pirates for being the best voting sides once again to be in the finals,” Makhanya said.
Also present was PLE Executive Committee Member and tournament Management Committee (MC) Chairperson Polycarp Dlamini, who had also mentioned the semis and finals would now be played next week. “It’s in respect of the Imbube Marathon and we’re apologetic to teams and fans alike for the change. It’s the final draw and we believe that with 28 participating teams in the competition, Mavuso can be packed to the rafters,” he said while also calling for non-violence as it was the case in the play-offs which were characterised by the country’s biggest football fixture, Mbabane Highlanders against Mbabane Swallows. The latter won 2-1 last Saturday while the other play-off was won with same margin by Spurs against Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows who are also in the NFD.