Times Of Swaziland: ROYAL LEAGUE COMMAND

ROYAL LEAGUE COMMAND
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BY SANELE JELE on 07/03/2019 01:24:00


(At Mavuso Sports Ground)
Manzini Wanderers.....(0)0
Royal Leopard...............(1)2
Lungelo 21st ,Charles 71st
MANZINI- Royal Leopard ensured a five points lead after humbling a misfiring
Manzini Wanderers here last night.
The police ensemble scored in each half via the boots of Lungelo Tsabedze and
Charles Edoa Nga.
The win saw Ingwe Mabalabala cementing the top spot with 45 points with six
games to spare before the league ends. For Wanderers, the lose did not cause
much damage in as far as log standings are concerned as they still remain on the
top eight brackets with 21 points after 20 games. If there was damage that was
done, it has to be that of their Weslians’ dignity.
Leopard should thank their gods after they got a manna from heaven. This is
after Wanderers’  Nigerian first choice goalkeeper Romanus Igidimba, received
a back pass from Sifiso ‘Tjovitjo’ Maseko and the former tried to dribble
past Lungelo Tsabedze but was dispossessed and the former Mbabane Highlanders
scored in an empty net with 21 minutes into the first stanza. Just before the
halftime there was drama, as a leopard fan was almost skinned alive by angry
Wanderers fans after he tried to walk to the host’s territory.
However, the situation was calmed by police officers.
Drama unfolded again as Manzini Wanderers ball boy tiptoed and grabbed a  juice
bottle behind Leopard’s goalpost, fans watched as the boy walked away without
Leopard fans gunning after him. In the 70 minutes, Mfanafuthi ‘Taribo’
Bhembe thought he had found the equaliser but he saw his header saved by
national team goalkeeper Phephisani Msibi.
Giants
Just when the hub giants were searching for an equliser, the police ensemble
scored the second goal against the run of play. It came from Cameroon import
Charles Edoa Nga, who tapped in a Lungelo Tsabedze curling cross in the 71
minutes.
The maroon and white ensemble continued with their never-die attitude and Taribo
was nearly again on target but Msibi proved why he made the national team
call-up, as he pulled another beautiful save in the 75 minutes.
Ghanaian John Mensah delivered a well timed cross and Lwazi ‘Shana’ Maziya
connected with a glancing header but he saw his deflecting before Taribo
unleashed a strong shot. It was parried by Leopard’s Phephisani Msibi for a
fruitless corner in the 84 minutes. In the end, the over 1 000 maroon and white
ensemble side went home dejected after witnessing their side playing
exceptionally well but missed an avalanche of chances.