Royals 3 (W) | Swallows 1 (L)

Last Sunday, following our summit of Executioner’s Rock, Doug, Joe (just arrived from Indiana, went to IU, here for 10 months on a Fullbright Scholarship) and I attended the league opener for the national football league between the Royals and the Swallows. There are two teams in Mbabane, one of which is the Swallows, so we decided to show our support for our hometown team. Apparently, it only cost e. 20 to get into a football game at Somholo Stadium, but we paid e. 30 each (which, mind you, is only $5, but it is the principle that gets me – we are such easy targets!). It was a double-header and we arrived during the second game and happily found an open area on the lawn to watch the rest of the match. It was sunset, and quite a good game. It was tied 1-1 for the majority of the time; however, the visiting team scored two, late goals which deflated the hometown crowd. All-in-all, it was a worthwhile adventure – however, there were a few lessons learned: 1) tickets are really only supposed to cost e. 20, 2) don’t attend the 2nd game of a double-header because people have been drinking all day, and 3) don’t sit on the ‘lawn’ side, sit in the bleachers, because on the lawn you’ll be relentlessly pursued by…folks who are down on their luck and think that you might be able to help, folks who have had way too much to drink and think that talking to a umlungu (white person) will be fun, or folks who are trying to sell stuff and are convinced that you are interested in buying. Oh, or by children who are curious and simply want to sit next to you and stare at you (but, children never bother me so I decided not to lump them with the other pursuers). Here's to a great season (and e. 20 bleacher seats)!