Ostriches plot to fowl Swallows
Mqondisi Dube | Friday February 10, 2017 11:21
They have made eight attempts in CAF club competitions and bombed out in the preliminary round, which should leave Madinda Ndlovu’s Orapa United rubbing their hands in glee ahead of their clash at the Francistown Sports Complex tomorrow night.
Swallows’ contrasting run on the continent and at home brings similar comparisons with Gulliver in the prose satire, Gulliver’s Travels.
Gulliver found himself among tiny people, the Lilliputians, where he was considered a giant.
But Gulliver’s fortunes changed sharply when he found himself in Brobdingnag after escaping from Lilliput. As he is swept ashore, he is rescued by a 72ft tall farmer in Brobdingnag where grass is as tall as trees. In this part of the world, Gulliver is considered tiny and powerless.
Swallows are an undisputed 69-year-old giant from Swaziland, where they have turned Somhlolo Stadium, in the traditional and legislative capital city of Swaziland, into a fortress.
As it stands, they have wrapped up the league with six games left after accelerating to a 21 point lead, ahead of huffing and puffing defending champions, Royal Leopards.
They have won seven cups in the last two seasons, pocketing 4 million Emalangeni (R4 million). That would intimidate any opponent, but Madinda Ndlovu is seemingly aware of Swallows’ ‘Gulliver’ challenges as he probably views the Swazi league as Lilliput.
“They are a great club with very good experienced players but what about the strengths of their (domestic) opponents?,” Ndlovu queried.
When comparing the two sides, Orapa United, more than seven decades younger than their opponents, is still wet behind the ear in terms of success. The Ostriches’ first and only success came in the Mascom Top 8 last season, but they can argue that they found their footing much earlier into their blossoming career.
Swallows on the other hand, boast a trophy laden history. While Orapa are driven by diamond mining company, Debswana, Swallows rely on the benevolence of well known Swazi businessman, Victor Gamedze who has applied for a mobile licence to break MTN’s monopoly in Swaziland. Orapa stay in the largely secluded and high security Orapa township, while their rivals, Swallows train in Mbabane but, on match day make the 10km journey to play at Somhlolo Stadium in Lobamba, just a stone’s throw away from His Majesty, King Mswati.
Attendances at the 12,000 seater Somhlolo, according Sunday Times of Swaziland Sports Editor, Lwazi Dlamini, average 4,000.
Orapa’s Itekeng takes around 8,000 spectators and has, just like Somhlolo, been turned into a fortress. Both sides do not fear each other.
Dlamini said the overwhelming feeling in Swaziland was that Swallows got a kind, easy draw and expectation is that their side will prevail.
“They expect to win.
They (Swallows) believe it is an easy draw, but they respect Orapa,” Dlamini said. He warned Swallows are a fiercely attacking side banking their hopes on DRC international, Papi Kapamba and local boy, Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhonze.
Ndlovu’s comments equally reveal that there is an air of optimism that they will roll over their opponents tomorrow night.
The Orapa side equally has an attacking trident of Zebron Njobvu, Omaatla Kebatho and Ronald Chikomo, with able support from Lemogang Maswena and Patrick Lenyeletse.
Their pace should trouble the Swallows defence, which Dlamini believes is their archilles heel but are backed by top national team keeper, Sabelo ‘Zikhali’ Ndzinisa. The top earner at Swallows earns around R15,000, and although there are no figures from Orapa United, the difference is not huge.
But Orapa are keen to prove that Swallows, away from Lobamba are a tiny Gulliver.