PHIWA’S HAT TRICK IMPOVERISH TYCOONS

Tycoons.................................. (0) 0
Buffaloes................................. (2) 5
Wandile 20th, Junior 28th, Phiwa 47th, 65th, 70th

LOBAMBA – A lot was expected from on form Hlathikhulu Tycoons, but they offered little to stop rampaging defending champions Young Buffaloes.

Not that they were expected to win, but based on their current, a credible score line would have done justice to the status accorded to the fixture. This was the main match of the grand opening triple-header, but the army side was just ruthless. 
Phiwa Dlamini netted a second half hat trick to join Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze at the summit of the top scorers chart.

Tycoons Coach Dan Kirk observed how his charges froze under the torrential rain that spoilt the grand opening event that saw over 2000 fans vacate midway through the last match due to the cold weather. Goalkeeper Sibusiso Simelane had a nightmarish return to the venue where his team lost 0-4 to Mbabane Highlanders during last year’s grand opener. He fumbled a lot of harmless shots that resulted in goals, and was duly rested for Andile Dlamini on the hour mark.
The first 20 minutes had looked promising for the Shiselweni side, but as soon as Wandile Nhleko converted from a set piece at 25 yards, Tycoons collapsed like a deck of cards.

It was 2-0 two minutes before the half hour mark, when Sifiso ‘Junior’ Mazibuko finished off at five yards from a goalmouth melee.
The Phiwa show resumed two minutes from the recess when a Ndoda Mthethwa shot was parried back to play by the erratic goalkeeper, for the burly striker to blast home at two yards.
The tie was long over as a contest even before the sacked Sihlangu forward made it 4-0 five minutes after the hour mark. This time, former Moneni Pirates winger Fanelo ‘Order’ Mamba had his stinging shot parried away for a corner kick. And from the corner kick Phiwa nodded home at two yards.

The striker bagged a hat trick five minutes later, after he was set through on goal by Sandile Gamedze before curling a shot into the far corner, nice and easy. It was beginning to be a mis-match of high proportion and at the time only a quarter of the over 2500 fans who braved the cold was left at the venue. The stadium emptied in less than 10 minutes from referee Sithembiso Dlamini’s final whistle. And Buffaloes coach Dominic Kunene was full of praise for his team for showing great professionalism in dealing with their opponents.

“The plan was to press them high and in numbers. We forced them to commit errors. We are happy to advance and we cannot pick and choose our next opponents as this is a knockout,” he said.

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