Rude welcome for ACE'!
(At Somhlolo Stadium)
Malanti……………..........………(1) 3
Dumisani 4th, 77th, Bongso 73rd
Buffaloes………………..........….(1) 2
Dunga 42nd, Sabelo 86th
LOBAMBA – It was not a pleasant return for towering mentor, Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini at Young Buffaloes after Malanti Chiefs beat his side 3-2 in an MTN League clash yesterday.
The action packed encounter watched by less than 300 people was Ace’s first game in charge of the club he deserted early in the season for Mbabane Swallows, until his shocking return in the past week.
He observed that there was a lot wrong with the club he inherited from his last season Deputy, Mandla Mabuza, who was conspicuously absent from the bench.
A brace by Malanti Chiefs’ striker, Dumisani Kunene, left his namesake, the team owner, Dumisani Gumede who watched from the royal box, with a smile as wide as the Somhlolo pitch, as both goals were retrieved from the top drawer.
It also helped take the Pigg’s Peak side to the second spot on the log with 11 points.
His first, just four minutes into the game, was a scorcher inside the box that bounced off the cross bar before resting at the far corner of the net with goalkeeper Nhlanhla Gwebu not knowing what had hit him.
The lanky forward had controlled a pass from Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini, turned his marker before letting fly the shot, the rest is history.
Buffaloes tried to respond, but most of their efforts were thwarted by Raphael Ntimane who played a game of his life at the back. Not even the comedy of errors by goalkeeper Vusi Ginindza could deter the former Sihlangu left back in his task.
The army side was determined to match the colourful Malanti side that was without their playmaker, Vusi Madinane, through injury. In his absence, Burundian Jean Nzeyimane filled his boots to perfection. Flying tackles started flying especially from Buffaloes’ side.
cautioned
And midfielder Mphile Tsabedze was lucky not to have been red carded or let alone cautioned when his crude tackle on Leonard Bongso left the paltry crowd screaming ‘murder’ at senior referee, Simanga Nhleko. He only punished the offence by awarding a free kick.
With two minutes before the recess, Buffaloes’ Manqoba Dunga Kunene in his trade mark free kicks drew his team level at 30 yards. That was a minute after Ndoda Mthethwa had failed with a gapping net and Malanti goal minder was at fault again, fumbling a cross from Bongso.
Malanti could have restored their lead at the stroke of half time, but captain, Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini’s shot was saved by Nhlanhla Gwebu at five yards after he had needlessly turned and tossed his marker, when scoring was the easiest option.
saves
Two saves were made in this half by both goalkeepers. Buffaloes’ Nhlanhla Gwebu acrobatically tipped over the bar a rasping ‘Mzoro’ shot at 18 yards over the bar. And on the far end of the pitch, the erratic Vusi surprised even himself when he threw his body to tip for a fruitless corner a thunderous shot by Dunga at 25 yards.
After the break, the army side improved with Malanti back pedaling. But still it was Malanti who took the lead in a controversial fashion, when the referee allowed an obvious push on Sabelo Mnisi by Leonardo who then scored from that incident that was 17 minutes from time. A minute later, the army side was awarded a spot kick after Sifiso ‘CJ’ Dlamini had in a moment of madness handled a stray cross inside the box. Vusi ‘MaOssu’ Soko sent his penalty way over the bar to the dismay of his bench.
They were made to pay dearly for that miss three minutes later, as Dumisani in a moment of brilliance, turned his marker and blasted a ground shot past a bemused Buffaloes goalkeeper to make the score line 3-1.
clearance
The goal did not deter the army side as they continued pushing forward, and they were rewarded four minutes from time, when Sabelo benefitted from a poor clearance by Bhekisisa Shongwe to head past the goalkeeper. The Pigg’s Peak side was able to hold on to the lead until the final whistle, to ensure that Buffaloes lose their fourth league match of the season. They remain rooted in the bottom of the log table with only two points in six games.
TEAMS
Buffaloes: Nhlanhla, Dolo (Sabelo), MaOssu, Goodman, Street, Mphile, Bhiya (Sifiso), Hurrah (Manqoba), Ndoda, Dunga, Sabelo.
Malanti: Vusi, CJ, Skhumbuzo, Bhekisisa, Raphael, Mzoro, Djemba, Cheeseboy (Sifiso), Dumisani, Leonard, Jean (Sihle).
REFEREE: Simanga Nhleko
ASSISTANTS: Sibusiso Mdluli, Celumusa Malinga
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Sibusiso Mndzebele
MATCH STATISTICS
MALANTI BUFFALOES
9 FOULS 13
7 CORNER 7
4 OFFSIDES 3
6 SHOTS TARGET 4
11 SHOTS WIDE 9
1 YELLOW CARD 3
0 RED CARD 0
MAN OF THE MATCH: Malanti Chiefs’ Dumisani Kunene proved effective in his role upfront. He performed his holding role task to perfection and his brace which capped an afternoon of good football was from retrieved from the top drawer.
GOAL OF THE GAME: It was no doubt Malanti Chiefs’ first goal by Dumisani Kunene who turned a let fly a scorcher inside the box. The goal left goalkeeper Nhlanhla Gwebu bemused.
SAVE OF THE GAME: Nhlanhla Gwebu and Vusi Ginindza shared this one for the daring saves made on Muzi Mzoro Dlamini and Manqoba Dunga Kunene respectively.
MISS OF THE DAY: Young Buffaloes Vusi ‘MaOssu’ Soko for skying a spot kick that could have drawn his team level. And the sad part is that from that miss, Malanti increased their tally to make the scoreline 3-1.
WEATHER: Sunny and mild
CROWD: Less than 300