CAN BUFFALOES KILL ‘VAN DAMME’ ‘BIRDS’?

My dearest readers ... how ironic that at the sound of the final whistle by referee, Mbongiseni Fakudze on Sunday at Somhlolo National Stadium as overjoyed Mbabane Swallows players celebrated wildly on the pitch and the thousands of their fans on the grandstands in sheer unbridled joy, the hired DJ played Maskandi musician Mroza’s SABC Summer Song of the Year hit ‘Van Damme’.

Nothing could have neatly encapsulated the story of a memorable season in which the red and white glamour side have clearly demonstrated the invincibility and fighting spirit that made Jean-Claude Van Damme movies so popular.

If anything Swallows have been the ‘Van Damme’ of local football – undefeated now in 23 matches in all competitions having won 22 and drawn one, a 1-1 draw with rivals Mbabane Highlanders in the Castle Premier Challenge semi-final first leg.
They have lost one game all season – a  4-3 penalty loss to hub giants Manzini Wanderers in the Swazi Telecom Charity Cup back on August 9, 2016 in the semi-finals which after a 2-all draw in normal time.

Our records show that Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati’s mean machine has not lost a game in open play this season.  Like in the Van Damme movies, whatever the situation might be, the star never dies. The star always rises from the ashes like the proverbial phoenix.
Swallows never know when they are beaten. They have amazing resilience, which they displayed on Sunday against a highly resistant and determined Manzini Sundowns who rattled the ‘Birds’ nest more than any other team has managed this season.

They came out of the blocks the quickest, peppering Swallows’ rear-guard, which looked very shaky, with probing moves and their game plan of a lone striker formation worked like a charm.

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