Times Of Swaziland: MOKENKOANE STEERS ‘BULL’ TO FIRST SEMIS

MOKENKOANE STEERS ‘BULL’ TO FIRST SEMIS
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BY ASHMOND NZIMA  on 21/01/2019 06:32:00


(At Somhlolo National Stadium)
Highlanders........ (0)1
Mokenkoane 80th
Matsapha............ (0)0
LOBAMBA – South Africa-born import Thabiso Mokenkoane came off the bench to
earn Mbabane Highlanders their first-ever semi-final appearance in the
Ingwenyama Cup.
After conspicuously missing in his side’s last outing, the return of the
gifted forward was just what the doctor ordered for the capital city giants in
their bid to shake off gusty Matsapha United with 1-0 win en route to their
maiden appearance in the last four of Eswatini’s richest knockout tournament.
Highlanders had failed to go beyond the quarter-finals in all three previous
attempts and had exited in the Last 16 last year following a 0-1 shock loss to
Milling Hotspurs.
Matsapha, who have been given a new lease of life under Zimbabwe-born Rodwell
Dhlakama, did their homework and would have caused an upset if they were more
clinical in front goal.
They further boasted the experience of midfielder Phinda ‘Majoro’ Ginindza,
who has been recruited from Green Mamba.
The duo of Johnson Mensah and Richard Effah ensured Highlanders lived
dangerously. However, it was Highlanders who had the best chance of the opening
half after Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze forced goalkeeper Innocent Adja to stretch
out his leg to keep out his audacious effort in the 18th minute.
interplay
Five minutes later, Matsapha’s Mensah opted to sky his effort from close range
following good interplay in the 23rd minute.
Just after the half-hour mark, Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze’s effort was
finger-tipped to safety to sum up a frustrating opening period for Saul
Chamunika’s men.
The teams were level-pegging during the interval.
Highlanders started breathing on resumption of play, especially after the
introduction of the duo of Mokenkoane and Sihle Ndaba who replaced Menzi Mamba
and Menzi Sithole, respectively.
Mokenkoane proved he meant business when he tested the goalkeeper with a
grass-cutter immediately after his introduction. However, the visitors never
dropped their heads and Effah failed to capitalise on a defensive mix-up.
He guided his effort just wide after shaking off two defenders in the 79th
minute.
A minute later, the hundreds of roaring home supporters who filled the left side
of the VIP box were on their feet. Mokenkoane benefitted from a flawless
interplay. He showed composure in the box before beating the goalkeeper with a
low shot to send the spectators into a frenzy.
It proved to be the decisive punch as Matsapha were already out of steam. The
latter will only have the E75 000 for reaching this stage as compensation. Focus
shifts to cheating the axe as they are at the basement of the charts in the
league.