EFFICIENT LEOPARD BEAT ‘WESLIANS’ TO E240 000 BATTLE

Wanderers....................................... (0) 0
Leopard............................................ (0) 2
‘Mzoro’ 62nd, Lungelo 84th

LOBAMBA – Without shrugging off the mediocrity that characterised their season, dethroned champions, Royal Leopard still showed that there was some little bit of sting left in them when they beat Manzini Wanderers 2-0 yesterday.

Though star-studded, the police side struggled against a youthful Weslians side that played the entire first half without their seasoned campaigners Lwazi ‘Shana’ Maziya and frontman Mfanafuthi Taribo Bhembe.

The Nyanga Hlophe drilled charges resisted their opponents who had Bonginkosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini and Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini playing upfront in the absence of Barry Steenkamp and Zweli Mlilo Nxumalo. The curtain raiser for the derby clash between champions Mbabane Swallows against relegated Mbabane Highlanders was more of a battle for the third placed position, which carries a  E240 000 carrot.

At the background, there was Moneni Pirates who were praying that the tie ended in stalemate for them to cling onto the third spot. But, Leopard second half performance showed that they still had a little of the ruthlessness that was once their trademark in the league.

After barren first half, ‘Mzoro’ nodded home the opener two minutes after the hour mark, from a well weighted cross from veteran skipper John Gama on the left, who started ahead of Sikhumbuzo ‘Chaka’ Ntimane.

Both teams had seen their only chance in the first half denied by brilliant goalkeeping from Phephisani Msibi and the ever improving Banele Dlamini respectively.

The Weslians made two changes at the start of the second half, resting Nkosiyazi Maphosa and Wethu Vilakati for Shana and Taribo.
They tried to threaten the opposition, but found Phumlani Dlamini in an uncompromising mood at Leopard centre back.

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