Africa-Press – Eswatini. Mbabane Highlanders Coach Milton ‘Spanish’ Dlamini expressed his desire for their rivals Mbabane Swallows to claim the MTN Premier League title.
The former Denver Sundowns coach said this during the pre-match press conference at Sigwaca House, yesterday, ahead of tomorrow’s much anticipated Mbabane derby against Mbabane Swallows at Somhlolo National Stadium. “I’m very happy for Coach Caleb and his team because, if I recall correctly, at the beginning of the league, there were calls to fire him and people did not believe in him. However, he remained confident in his style of play, and that’s why I respect him. He faced criticism, but despite that, he is a good coach. Although we want to defeat him tomorrow, we also hope that his team wins the league,” he said.
Significance
The experienced coach acknowledged the significance of the derby game, but emphasised that their primary focus remained on preparing the team for the next season. “We are fully aware of the previous derby results in the league, which have mostly ended in draws. We are excited to face our rivals again tomorrow, as it provides us with an opportunity to erase the memories of the 0-3 defeat we suffered against them. Our team is determined and believes in our ability to give Highlanders supporters a win. We take this responsibility seriously and understand the significance of the game,” the coach said.
Mbabane Swallows Coach Caleb ‘No Nonsense’ Ngwenya stated that the team underwent thorough preparations for the upcoming match. The Umkhonto KaShaka gaffer emphasised that the entire Swallows family recognised the importance of the game to their supporters and all those involved with the team. “I want to emphasise that our team is committed to putting on a strong performance in the game. Our main goal is to make our supporters proud and share in the excitement of this important derby match. During our training sessions, I’ve noticed a heightened sense of anticipation and focus among the players. We recognise the significance of the derby within our schedule and understand what it means to everyone involved.
As a team, we are fully dedicated to playing this crucial match and striving for maximum results. We want to honour the importance of the derby and make our supporters happy through our performance on the field,” he said. The former Green Mamba league-winning coach acknowledged that the team will miss the presence of Sandile Hlatjwako, who was unavailable for the game due to suspension. However, Ngwenya was quick to point out that Hlatjwako had only recently started playing in his new role, which could help soften the blow of his absence.
“While it is unfortunate that we won’t have Hlatjwako for this match, we must remain focused on our strategy and the abilities of the players who will be on the field. Our team’s depth and adaptability will be crucial in overcoming this challenge, and we are confident in our ability to perform well despite this setback,” he shared.
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