Selabuswa Tinyoni

It’s hard to envisage any football club in Swaziland having a better calendar year in future than Mbabane Swallows’ 2017. It has been a year to remember for Swallows, a year in which they have swept almost all before them. 2017 has been a year in which they reached uncharted territories on the African continent and maintained their long, incredible unbeaten run in the MTN Premier League.

When the Birds were nominated as one of five sides for the African Club of the Year award last week, it was a worthy ending to a memorable year. Named alongside heavyweights Al Ahly, TP Mazembe, Wydad Atletic Club and SuperSport United, Swallows certainly deserve their place among the crème de la crème of African football. Swallows won the Ingwenyama Cup, MTN Premier League and SPTC Charity Cup in 2017.

They also made history by being the first Swazi side to reach the group stages of a CAF tournament. They might not have advanced past the group stages in that CAF Confederations Cup campaign but they certainly left their mark. They are currently on a 38 match unbeaten streak in the League. They are relentless and who can blame the Swallows faithful when they chant “Selabuswa Tinyoni.” It’s hard to argue with them. Swallows are the country’s dominant side.

They have certainly ruled in 2017. Apart from the heartbreaking loss of their dearly departed CEO Sibusiso Manana, Swallows can look back at 2017 with immense pride and a huge sense of accomplishment.  When CAF hosts its awards in January, Swallows surely deserve to walk away with the Club of the Year award. On a much smaller budget than the other four sides, Swallows have certainly punched above their weight in 2017. It’s easy to forget they are a semi-professional side after all.

But Swallows dominance of the local league is now under serious threat from Young Buffaloes. The Birds have stuttered in recent weeks, with three draws in their last four league matches, and Buffaloes have taken full advantage. Buffaloes have won three of their last four league matches and now sit together with Swallows at the summit of the log standings.

The two sides have exactly identical records. They have the same number of points, goals scored and goals conceded; they cannot be separated. It’s perfectly poised. From here on in, we should have a title race like no other. It’s the dream scenario, a title race to savour. It is perhaps symbolic in itself that the two sides have cancelled each other out in both their league matchups this season. Maybe it’s only right that they both share the summit now. We have a title race on our hands.