PHIWA NETS BRACE AS DE JONGH PICKS SIHLANGU STARS

Sea Birds...........................................................0
Buffaloes...........................................................2
Phiwa 42nd, 87th

LOBAMBA – With a pen and paper in his hand, national team Sihlangu coach Pieter De Jongh could certainly not miss striker Phiwa Dlamini.

The Young Buffaloes player was at his best from the first whistle and could have easily got a hat-trick but a brace was all he had against MTN Premier League basement side Manzini Sea Birds.
This was yesterday at the Somhlolo National Stadium.
Phiwa turned and tossed Sea Birds defenders inside the box but then ballooned the ball well wide in the 12th when he could do better.

He had already seen his attempt parried out by the keeper, Bafana Ngwenya, in the second minute. Midfielder Mzwandile Nkonyane also tested the keeper from outside the box but he was equal to the task.
Sea Birds also got a good chance in the 30th but with the keeper Nhlanhla Gwebu at his mercy, winger Bhekumuzi Mamba rushed the ball and shot agonisingly wide.

They were made to pay a minute later as Buffaloes won a penalty following the ball landing on midfielder Jabulani Mabuza’s hand.
Phiwa stepped up to score from the spot kick three minutes before the break.

There was then a moment of ill-discipline in the second half which saw Buffaloes striker Ndoda Mthethwa cautioned on the bench as he prepared to come on.
He got the yellow for dissent and fourth official Lucky ‘Makalakalane’ Ndlangamandla happened to hear him.

In the 77th, Sea Birds thought they had won a penalty when Wandile Nhleko was brought down inside the box but the second assistant raised his flag for an offside - close call though.
Phiwa completed his brace three minutes from time after substitute Ndoda picked him with a low pass across goal to power it in from close range.
He could have made it 3-0 when he dribbled the keeper in a one-on-one situation but the ball drifted slightly away from goal and he opted to turn and lay it for an unmarked Ndoda in the six yard box but the latter miscued the ball as his weak attempt was cleared by Gcinizwi Dlamini.

Sea Birds played the game without head coach Gcina Dlamini, who is out of the country due to work commitments.
Losing was not an option for Sea Birds who have seven points at the bottom. After this result, they will need to win the last four games and pray that Tambuti, Red Lions and Mbabane Highlanders drop points otherwise they are as good as gone to the First Division League.

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