‘BULL’ BEAT PIRATES

LOBAMBA – It took class and sheer talent for giants Mbabane Highlanders to outwit a resilient Moneni Pirates 2-0 yesterday in an exciting MTN Premier League game at Somhlolo National Stadium.

It was the sheer brilliance of South African midfielder Vusi Mashinini, renowned as ‘Madinane’, and 21-year-old youngster midfielder Fanelo Tsabedze that handed the ‘Bull’, as Highlanders are known, the maximum points to stay on leaders Royal Leopard’s tail on two points adrift.

After an evenly contested first half, the duo struck in the last half, a victory it was gathered the players had intended to get for their Chairman Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane – Fanelo confirmed his man of the match performance was to try and hand the Highlanders family and their boss the perfect Christmas gift.

Highlanders got the first eight minutes after the hour-mark after a well-worked move from the back on the left flank as Njabulo picked Fanelo in the middle, who then picked Chocco on the side, who dribbled right-back Makhosi Mthethwa before picking Vusi with a well-weighted pass just outside the box.

The midfielder controlled it once while it was still in the air and lifted his head to see the Pirates goalkeeper Ndodana Sibanda off his line and let fly a looped ball that went above the goalkeeper to land right at the back of the net, much the amusement of their fans.

Then man of the match, Fanelo capped his exceptional display with a fine volley from inside the box after dribbling past defenders but saw his first effort blocked before he volleyed the rebound to make it 2-0 and killed the game off.
Otherwise, it was a well contested match in which Pirates had their chances but they were all in vain with former Highlanders striker Mfanufikile ‘Fash’ Ndzimandze always the troublemaker but if his long range efforts were not just inches off target, the Highlanders goalkeeper, Machawe Mamba, was equal to the task.

Highlanders had also lost the services of trusted striker Ayanda Lumkwane, who got an early ankle injury as Pirates were at times too physical. but fans blamed referee Mbongiseni Fakudze for too much leniency as he only produced two yellow cards.

Lumkwane was replaced with Sifiso Mazibuko who did well though to trouble the Pirates defenders, keeping them on their toes whenever in possession. It turned out it was once again to be Highlanders with the last laugh as they did even in the first round despite a raging storm that stopped the match for about 15 minutes before the game continued.

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