SOCCER – UBOMBO Sugar have emerged as the early pace-setters in the MTN Premier League, becoming the only team to win their opening two matches and they will look to strengthen their position at the top when they visit Moneni Pirates on Sunday.
The sugar boys have made the perfect start to their campaign and will be determined to keep their winning run intact when they conclude the weekend’s action at 4:15pm. Moneni Pirates, however, will have other ideas. The home side will be eager to derail the leaders and make a statement against a team that has quickly established itself as the early benchmark in the title race.
While Ubombo Sugar will be chasing a third consecutive victory, attention tomorrow Saturday will be firmly fixed on Mayaluka Stadium, where Mbabane Highlanders AMFC and Royal Leopard will collide in one of the weekend’s most anticipated fixtures. Royal Leopard will be looking to settle the score after suffering a heavy 2-5 defeat to Highlanders at Prince of Wales Sports Ground in a midweek clash last season. The police outfit will hope to use home advantage and their positive start to the campaign to reverse that result.
Highlanders, meanwhile, will be keen to maintain their momentum after opening the season with an impressive victory.
At Simunye Stadium, Manzini Sea Birds will host Young Buffaloes, with the visitors desperate to bounce back from a disappointing start. Sea Birds suffered a painful 0-1 defeat to Nsingizini Hotspurs at King Sobhuza II Stadium last Saturday.
Capital city giants Mbabane Swallows will also be under pressure when they welcome Madlenya to Killarney Sports Ground. The red and white outfit will be searching for its first points of the campaign after going down 0-1 to Ubombo Sugar in their opening league fixture.
Later in the day, Green Mamba will face Pigg’s Peak Professionals in another fixture expected to attract considerable interest.
Reigning champions Nsingizini Hotspurs will be on the road, travelling to Mavuso Sports Centre to face Ezulwini United. The champions will be hoping to build on their morale-boosting victory over Young Buffaloes as they begin their pursuit of another league crown.
MTN Premier League Fixtures
| Match | Kick-off |
|---|---|
| Today | |
| Tabankulu Stadium | |
| Celtics vs Amawele | 3:30 pm |
| Tomorrow | |
| Mayaluka Stadium | |
| Mbabane Highlanders vs Royal Leopard | 3:30 pm |
| Mavuso Sports Centre | |
| Ezulwini United vs Nsingizini Hotspurs | 2:00 pm |
| Moneni Pirates vs Ubombo Sugar | 4:15 pm |
| Simunye Stadium | |
| Manzini Sea Birds vs Young Buffaloes | 3:00 pm |
| King Sobhuza II Stadium | |
| Rangers vs Red Rhinos | 3:00 pm |
| Killarney Sports Ground | |
| Mbabane Swallows vs Madlenya | 1:00 pm |
| PP Proffesionals vs Green Mamba | 3:15 pm |
