Times Of Swaziland: ‘BUFFS’ UNBEATEN IN ALMOST 350 DAYS

‘BUFFS’ UNBEATEN IN ALMOST 350 DAYS
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Ashmond Nzima on 24/01/2023 08:29:00


MBABANE – They are ‘in a league of their own’.
That is the story of log leaders Young Buffaloes who have stretched their
unbeaten run to 30 straight league matches. In a 16-team league like South
Africa’s DStv Premiership, Buffaloes’ record is equivalent to playing a
whole season without defeat. After this past Saturday’s goalless draw with
Mbabane Highlanders, Buffaloes remained unbeaten in 346 days, which is almost a
full calendar year. A normal year has 365 days.
suffered
The last time the 2009/10 and 2019/20 MTN Premier League champions suffered
defeat was back in February 10, 2022. It was a 1-3 loss to Royal Leopard at
KaLanga Technical Centre in Siteki during the first round (week 12) of last
season, which was played over 30 games. Lungelo Tsabedze’s brace alongside a
strike from Junior Magagula steered the police ensemble past the rigid army
side. Marksman Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze scored Buffaloes’ consolation
goal. In the absence of knockout tournaments, Buffaloes have only played league
matches during the period under review. The only knockout tournament in the past
year was the inaugural MoMo Cup, which was won by Nsingizini Hotspurs. Buffaloes
did not qualify for the MoMo Cup after failure to collect enough votes.
impressive
Following their impressive run, Buffaloes are now on course to challenge the
record set by Mbabane Swallows. Swallows went two seasons unbeaten in the
Premier League in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. Their unbeaten streak started on May
15, 2016 and ended on September 30, 2018. They went 51 games unbeaten, including
some games in the third season. Coach Mandla ‘Stofu’ Dlamini could not be
immediately drawn for comment on the impressive run. His phone rang unanswered
and he was yet to respond to a WhatsApp text sent to him at the time of
compiling this report late yesterday.