Times Of Swaziland: SA LEGENDS TOO GOOD FOR ESWATINI

SA LEGENDS TOO GOOD FOR ESWATINI
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BY MTHUNZI MAZIYA  on 01/07/2018 08:52:00


Eswatini Legends..... (1)3
Sis Monica 11th, Tony 69th, Wonder 72nd
SA Legends.............. (3)5
Manzini 5th, 31st, 66th, Ndlovu 40th, Shai 85th
MANZINI – The much hyped Sibusiso ‘Spoko’ Dlamini Testimonial match ended
in defeat for Eswatini Legends at the Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday.
Close to 1 000 locals turned up to support the local legend in what was
officially his last football match. A number of his former teammates from South
Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs and local side Royal Leopard also attended the match.
‘Spoko’ constantly changed sides as he also played for the visiting South
Africans, but his impact in the game was minimal.
The visitors started well and forced the opposition to defend for much of the
opening stages. They were duly rewarded after only nine minutes when former
Mamelodi Sundowns defender Michael Manzini scored the opening goal of the match
after good work from Stanton Fredericks on the right.
Incredibly, Fredericks, who retired in 2015 after turning up for Bidvest Wits in
the Premier Soccer League (PSL), played the entire 90 minutes without the
sporadic substitutions enjoyed by most of the players.
The South Africans’ lead was short-lived as Celumusa ‘Sista Monica’
Vilakati found himself free on goal in the 11th minute to bring the locals on
level terms.
Dennis ‘Yuki’ Masina wasted a good chance to give the Eswatini side the lead
when he was released by John ‘Junior Shisa’ Mdluli in the 28th minute, but
he failed to finish with the keeper at his mercy.
Manzini then took full advantage when he latched onto a through ball from
midfield to score the second goal for the SA Legends. A third goal by Manzini
five minutes before the break snuffed out any hopes of  the locals’ comeback.
At the interval, Eswatini brought on Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze and Wonder ‘Samba
Jive’ Nhleko to try and force a win, but it was not to be as the South
Africans appeared to gain momentum with every kick. A fourth goal was imminent,
and it duly came. The sad part was that it was a defender who was a thorn to the
locals. Manzini completed his hat-trick with a smart finish in the 66th minute
to put the score beyond the locals’ reach.
Sensing defeat, Tony and Wonder raised their game and both scored to reduce the
deficit in the 69th and 72nd minute, respectively. Spoko had switched sides at
the start of the second half to play 20 minutes for the South Africans, before
he came back to try and rescue his countrymen.
His efforts were in vain as Kaizer Chiefs legend Isaac Shai saved the best for
last with a thunderous left foot strike that left Njabuliso Simelane bemused in
goal.
Referee Gilbert Dlamini soon blew to end the contest with the locals smarting
from embarrassment. The day belonged to ‘Spoko’, and most of the South
Africans shook hands with him at the final whistle as he officially put a stop
to a glorious career that saw him mesmerise defences with his sublime skills.
Stanton ‘Stiga’ Fredericks was the most popular player with the fans after
the game, but he too bowed to the local legend as a sign of respect for a player
who stood against the odds at Kaizer Chiefs to put the Kingdom of Eswatini on
the world map. At Sihlangu, Spoko will be remembered for the 1999 COSAFA Castle
Cup when they reached the semi-finals with the likes of Dennis ‘Yuki’
Masina, Siza ‘King Pele’ Dlamini, Bongani Ndezi Masangane and other legends.