Mbabane: It is now 19 years since Mbabane Highlanders last won a league title, the 2000/2001 Castle Larger League but they remain the country’s most successful club in history.
Highlanders’ nearest challengers in their impressive 25 trophy haul are bitter sworn rivals Mbabane Swallows with a bucketfull of 23. However, the Black Bull’s 13 league titles would also see them far ahead of their rivals in terms of their value if it were to be put in points.
Swallows have just seven league titles with the majority of their success coming from cup competitions. Since the establishment of the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) in 1971, the ‘holy grail’ league title has been shared among just 12 clubs.
Highlanders and Swallows are on 13 and seven respectively as stated. Crowd pullers Manzini Wanderers and Royal Leopard have won the league six times apiece. After winning the MTN League last season under Caleb Ngwenya, it was just only the second time Green Mamba won it. Also on two league trophies are Denver Sundowns who won it back-to-back in 1989 and 1990, Milling Hotspurs, winners of the opening two editions in 1971 and 1972, and XI Men in Flight.
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While Young Buffaloes were on course for a second league triumph since Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini guided them to one in the 2009/2010 season, Covid-19 interrupted proceedings.
Therefore, the army side still has one title alongside Mhlambanyatsi Rovers, Mhlume Peacemakers and Kwaluseni Juventus.
HIGHLANDERS TROPHY HAUL:
League: 13 titles in 1974, 1976, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1999/2000, 2000/2001
FA Cup (BP Challenge or Eswatini Bank Cup): 7 trophies in 1983, 1985, 1990, 1997, 1999, 2009, 2010
Trade Fair: 1999
Charity Cup (Lusito or Eswatini Telecom): 1998, 2007, 2008, 2010
TOTAL= 25 TROPHIES
SWALLOWS TROPHY HAUL:
League: 7 titles in 1993, 2004/2005, 2008/2009, 2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2016/2017, 2017/2018
FA Cup (BP Challenge or Eswatini Bank Cup): 4 trophies in 1986, 2006, 2013, 2016
Charity Cup (Lusito or Eswatini Telecom): 6 trophies in 1997, 1999, 2007, 2016, 2017, 2018
Castle Premier Challenge: 2013, 2015, 2016
Ultimate Cup: 2012
King’s Cup: 2015
Mbabane Mayoral Cup: 2002
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