G. MAMBA DERAILS ‘BIRDS’ EARLY CROWNING

Swallows................ (0)0
Gr Mamba............. (0)0

NHLANGANO – With Young Buffaloes playing to a goalless draw against Manzini Sundowns, Mbabane Swallows crowning as the 2017/18 MTN League champions was drawing ever close with a win here.

Actually, had they saw off a vastly improved and entertaining Green Mamba side, Swallows would have needed just one win from the remaining three matches but in all honesty, the red and white giants were close from suffering their first defeat in two MTN League seasons had their Correctional Services’ opponents been clinical.

The two sides played to a barren draw in front of a strong over 1 000 crowd at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium inside the southern small town of Nhlangano. Coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati had to endure the match with a depleted team after three of his key players, industrious midfielder Felix Badenhorst, galloping forward Sandile Hlatshwako and agile shot stopper Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza reportedly went AWOL (Absence Without Official Leave).

Despite the crippling draw against a side that just two weeks ago eliminated them from the exhilarating SwaziBank Cup, Swallows maintain their five-point lead over nearest challengers Buffaloes. It was an entertaining encounter played at high intensity, sometimes too physical; leaving both sets of benches hopping mad at bone crushing challenges that most often than not went unpunished.

Simanga, who seized the opportunity, owing to Sandile’s disappearance broke twice early on but did not keep his composure to at least test Thokozani Mkhulisi at Green Mamba’s sticks. Mcolisi Mkhontfo had a thunderous shot from 25 yards out, bouncing off Sandanezwe Mathabela but the Swallows goalkeeper was equal to the task when Mcolisi let fly another scorcher moments later.
Mthunzi ‘Xavi’ Mkhontfo should have done better on the far post after being picked by Thabiso Gumbi but his effort was swallowed by Sandanezwe, who engraved his name on the Swallows faithful hearts with another man of the match performance.

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