’LANDERS’ 4TH LOSS TO ‘BIRDS’ HURTS LIKE HELL

My dearest readers... I may belong to the ‘Football Einstein’s’ as the cocky Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho calls football scribes but on Sunday I went to Somhlolo National Stadium with a wish.

While Malanti Chiefs were still making mincemeat of Sikhalo seAfrica, I found myself seated with Mbabane Swallows acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sibusiso Manana and I asked him if they intend beating Highlanders again. As if he had been waiting for the question the whole week, Manaba emphatically said: “YES!. No doubt, we will beat them again!”

My heart sank in pain. In a perfect world, derby football is more fulfilling when it is not ‘obvious’ who will win on the day. But in our football scenario, for Highlanders in particular, the derby has become more like visiting a dentist. You know it will hurt, the only thing you don’t know is how hurtful it will be when the doctor is done with plucking out the tooth.

Highlanders is a big and legendary team with a proud and rich history and seeing the ‘Black Bull’ being reduced into ‘small club’ by their bitter rivals must be a bitter pill to swallow by their faithful supporters.

My wish and hope was that on Sunday the ‘Black Bull’ win or at least play a draw. But as soon as the two teams took to the field, reality sank in. Even without ball juggler, Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze and left back Sanele Mkhweli, the ‘Birds’ were still better; player-to-player comparison. Besides the eccentric Xolani ‘Chocco’ Sibandze, reportedly the highest paid player at Highlanders and I reckon whatever they are paying him, they should double it as he is the best of the lot.

Just eight minutes into the game, the gulf in class was evident with Sibusiso Dlamini driving a Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko cross into his own net. Swallows did score the second goal through two-goal hero Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa but to their credit, Highlanders did not lie down and allow Swallows to roughshod over them.

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