SWALLOWS FLY OVER MANDA-LESS MALANTI

LOBAMBA – Felix Badenhorst returned from injury to inspire his rejuvenated Mbabane Swallows to an emphatic 2-0 win over coach-less Malanti Chiefs yesterday.

The win took the capital giants, who have now fully recovered from the early season slump, to the top five bracket with two games remaining in the first round.
Felix will miss the next match against Young Buffaloes this weekend after being shown a straight red card by referee Mbongeni Shongwe for manhandling Malanti Chiefs’ Linda Tsabedze in a mini scuffle. Tsabedze was also given marching orders for a crude tackle from behind on Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa in what was a second bookable offence, leaving both teams with 10-man.

Once again, Swallows were completely in control of the tie from the onset, exposing the porous-as-sieve Malanti Chiefs defence, whose fate was compounded by the disappearance of head coach Charles Manda ahead of the game.

The red and white outfit cruised at will, but they were once again guilty of missing gilt-edged chances in both halves. Felix’s goal was a perfect team goal that saw four players involved. Industrious midfielder Manqoba Ndwandwe, who started again ahead of Aloius Ngwerume, interchanged at centreline with the tireless Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu who then released Tony Tsabedze on the left flank.

The skipper cut inside and picked Felix at the edge to blast past the outstretched hands of Gwebu. It could have been 2-0 two minutes later, but ‘Sikhali’ failed to punish a howler by Gwebu who failed to clear a back pass and was dispossessed by the striker, who unfortunately let the loose ball stray off the field for a goal kick.

Malanti had a half chance to score when Dumisani ‘DU’ Kunene shot over the cross bar inside the box. But it was Swallows who were dangerous going forward, as they had a total of 19 shots on goal, with 10 on target. They also forced 14 corner kicks against their opponents who managed only three.

Without the long-serving Raphael Ntimane at the back, the gold and black side lacked a leader as the Sifiso ‘CJ’ Dlamini and Bhekisisa Shongwe proved to be a horrible combination. Felix let the latter off the hook when he dispossessed him at 20 yards out, faced with Nhlanhla Gwebu to beat, but opted to take a hard shot when chipping would have been a better option.

The second half saw Malanti resting an out-of-sorts former Swallows right back, Manqoba Zwane, who was playing left back for Thembumenzi ‘Djemba’ Mayisela.

Sabelo Hlatshwako also made way for Mxolisi Mkhontfo. Swallows lost Sabelo through an injury as a result of the tackle from the red-carded Linda Tsabedze, and on came Sandile Hlatshwako.

With anxiety creeping in as a result of the narrow lead, Malanti started threatening, but failed to bridge the defence. It took the ever-improving right back Xolani Tyson Magagula to seal the tie on the final minute of normal time, finishing off a flicked pass from Sandile inside the box.
Swallows have now amassed 14 points in nine games; they are seven behind leaders and rivals Mbabane Highlanders.

REFEREE: Mbongeni Shongwe
ASSISTANTS: Sifiso Nxumalo, Mandla Gama
MAN OF THE MATCH: Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu dominated the belly of the park in every aspect of the game, linking defence and attack with aplomb. He seemed to have formed a deadly partnership with Manqoba Ndwandwe.

But Malanti Chiefs forward Diverson Mlozi also deserves special mention for his contribution in the game.

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