‘BIRDS’ GUN FOR GROUP STAGES

MBABANE – The resurrection of Jesus is the Christian religious belief that, after being put to death, Christ rose again and ascended to His heavenly Father.

It is the central tenet of Christian theology and part of the Nicene Creed: ‘On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures’.
After Burundian match officials put Mbabane Swallows to death away in Congo Brazzaville at the Deni Sassou Ngesso Stadium, the godly belief among this Christianity community that is Swaziland is that, the red and white giants will rise again this afternoon at the Somhlolo National Stadium.  

Clearly operating from their own rule book, if video clips from the CAF Confederation Cup play-off first leg match in Congo are anything to go by, one can only hope the contingent of referees led by middleman Helder Martins De Carvalho from Portuguese speaking Angola will not be visually impaired like their Burundian counterparts.
Swallows should be coming to this game with an all important goal scored by Congolese left footed winger King Mydo but referring decisions on the day ensured AC Leopards, Swallows opponents in the tie cling on their reed thin 1-0 advantage. Kakunze Herve, the Burundian assistant referee flagged for a non-existent off-side on a stunning equalising diving header by Mydo that beat goalkeeper, Eleng Tresor of AC Leopards hands down according to our man on the ground, Times of Swaziland Sports Editor Lwazi Dlamini and video clips captured by Supersport TV.

It was daylight robbery and dereliction of duty by the match officials who made so many controversial decisions such that at the final whistle, the home fans cheered them on as they made their way to the tunnel – not their own team.
But the result cannot be changed. AC Leopards have drawn first blood and are on the driving seat.
For Swallows, they will have to win this game by two or goals margin. The all conquering capital city giants are no strangers to that, they did it against Azam of Tanzania in the second round batch of matches of the same tournament after suffering a 1-0 away defeat in the first leg before crushing the Tanzanians 3-0 at the fortress, Somhlolo National Stadium.

Swallows have not lost a home match in any CAF inter-club tournament in the past five years.
Having played six, they won five with the only draw, goalless it was coming in 2013 against Zambian giants Zanaco. It is the kind of home form that will propel Swallows to soldier on following the manufactured first leg score line away in Dolisie.     

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