ANOTHER NEW SWAZIBANK CUP UNDER-20 CHAMPION

 (At Somhlolo National Stadium)

Leopard……........................…. (2)2
Gift 19th, Tony 28th
Sundowns…........................….. (0)0

LOBAMBA – Winning the SwaziBank Cup Under-20s more than once is proving to be a hard nut to crack.

Inaugural edition (2014) winners were hoping to become the first team to win the tournament twice, but got more than they had bargained for against a recharged Royal Leopard during Sunday’s decider at Somhlolo National Stadium.

Two first half goals by Gift Ginindza and the impressive Tony Dlamini earned the Leopard junior outfit the E35 000 first prize money.
After eliminating then holders, Young Buffaloes in the semi-finals, Sundowns had hoped for another flawless outing, but were found wanting as their talisman, Senzo Dlamini, was submerged.

It took the first 19 minutes for the blue and white ensemble to unsettle the opposition. Gift, whose earlier attempt shaved the cross bar, broke the deadlock with a stunner from about 30 yards.  Tony ensured his side enjoyed a two-goal cushion during the break, after punishing the opposition defence during a scramble when the game was 28 minutes old.

Sundowns, who had tried to throw all into attack after the re-start, still got stuck into a forest of bodies when they tried to move forward.
They hardly tested the home goalkeeper, and it was no surprise that they had not responded by the sound of referee, Thembinkosi Dlamini’s final whistle. The latter had turned heads after he red-carded a ball-boy, who was adjudged to have planted foreign substance next to the goal post.

For reaching the final, Sundowns will pocket E15 000. Other previous winners are Mbabane Swallows, who claimed gold in 2015. The top goalscorer award will be shared by Sundowns’ Muziwakhe Mahlalela and Leopard’s Tony Dlamini, who both finished on three goals. They will get E1 000 apiece.

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