‘SIKHALI’S FAB FOUR DIM STARS

LOBAMBA – Remember the name. Sabelo Ndzinisa, jersey number 14.

His nickname is ‘Sikhali’ and the word means ‘spear’. Before a rapturous 12 000- strong crowd, who had gained free entry to the Somhlolo National Stadium, he ‘speared’ South Africa’s Platinum Stars four times to send the magnificent Mbabane Swallows to the top of the CAF Confederation Cup Group B log standings here yesterday, albeit temporarily.
Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien were due to face Algeria’s MC Alger at the Stade 5 Juliet 1962 Stadium in Alger last night.

It crowned a masterly display by the all- conquering Mbabane Swallows, who sent the whole country into delirium in taking the much fancied South African side to the cleaners and ‘Dikwena’ left the stadium seeing stars all the way back to Rustenburg.
With the time it takes to boil an egg, the red and white glamour side, whose African dream is very much on course, were 2-0 goals up through a freak goal by the impressive ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, who finished off a deflected shot by the eccentric Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze in the 2nd minute in a freakish manner; to paraphrase Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho, it was a ‘goal from the moon’.

Four minutes later, ‘Sikhali’ pounced like a thief in the still of the night, finishing sublimely with a glancing header a Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko gift-wrapped pass from the near post to send the home fans into untold scenes of jubilation. The quicksilver striker also had two goal-bound shots ricochet off the bar in either half.
Platinum Stars were rattled. Coach Cavin Johnson paced around the technical area like a retrenched watchman as Swallows threatened to skin the ‘Crocodiles’, as Platinum Stars are affectionately known, alive.

But it seems tailor-made that Swallows’ attacking potency must be balanced up by a jittery defence, which fell like a deck of cards at the slightest pressure applied by the likes of Ndumiso Mabena, Abia Nale and Robert Ngambi.
The Rustenburg-based outfit pulled one back when sluggish defender Siphamandla Matsenjwa, who had a nightmarish game, tackled from behind striker Benson Shilongo, who had latched onto a brilliant former Kaizer Chiefs winger, Abia Nale pass.

Shilongo converted the first of his two spot kicks. When once again, in the 19th minute, the erratic Matsenjwa handled a cross from Vuyo Mere inside the box, a penalty was awarded only for Swaziland’s number one Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza to dive to his left and make a brilliant save thus denying Nale the equaliser as the South African side worked its way back into the game.
Swallows’ panicky defence were always exposed on the right and left full-back where Xolani ‘Tyson’ Magagula and Sifiso Mabila were caught flat-footed by the incisive passes of Ngambi, who out-foxed midfielder Papy Tshishimba in the first half before the dreadlocked Congolese midfielder found his mojo in the second half.

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