’DOWNS SINK ‘WESLIANS’ IN BIBLE SOCIETY CUP

Wanderers.............................. (0)0
Sundowns............................... (0)0
Sundowns won 3-1 after penalties

MANZINI – Silverware continues to evade Manzini Wanderers nearly over 12 years later – not even a ‘divine’ match can salvage their drought.

With their coach Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe fusing in new blood in young players against the eventual champions of the Bible Society Cup, Manzini Sundowns, it was an exciting afternoon but both sides fired blanks until the end of the 90 or so minutes.

Even Nigerian striker Aladeon Kola, who is fresh from a week-long assessment at Mbombela United, failed to inspire the youngsters as they were beaten 1-3 in the penalty shootouts. The result marked yet another trophy-less period for the hub side despite that it was an unofficial competition.

It is now over 12 years for Wanderers without a trophy and perhaps this one would have brought some courage and belief that they can win something when the new season starts in September.
The match, that attracted an over 500 exciting crowd whose gate entry was just a siSwati Bible which was being commemorated for 20 years of existence, old or new, it did not matter. It was also played at the once entertaining home of soccer, the Trade Fair Grounds yesterday. The venue used to play host to the defunct Trade Fair Cup.

Never mind the Trade Fair Ground and its bushy surroundings - it looks like an abandoned farm house somewhere in rural Mvembili, but the football displayed on the bumpy surface was worth the siSwati Bible, which cost at least E80.
Sundowns’ development product Lwethu Simelane emerged the hero as he saved two penalties from Mthobisi Mazibuko and Wanderers captain of the day Sihle Mkhonta to give the ‘Kappa Kappa’ side the Manzini bragging rights.
Defender Calvin Kiu had converted Sundowns’ opening penalty to set the tone before Ali Matse ballooned his effort over the bar to put pressure on the ‘Weslians’.
Sundowns had fielded a youthful team here with the experienced guys preferred for the trip to the Nkomanzi Charity Cup in Mpumalanga, South Africa. 

At the end of the day, it was a beautiful ‘biblical war’ that had started as early as 10am with matches between Christian radio the Voice of the Nation (VOC) and the Bible Society before a battle between Mbabane and Manzini pastors.
Wanderers coach Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe said he was happy to have used some of his new recruits from the regions in a match situation and was adamant last season players were not guaranteed a starting berth going forward.
“The defeat will help us continue undisrupted with the team’s rebuilding. You know I’m infusing new blood to the team, and a preseason win would have destructed these youngsters,” the former Sihlangu assistant coach said.

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