‘WESLIANS’ BUTCHER LEOPARD, FACE ‘BUFFS’ IN LADIES’ FINAL

Wanderers ..................................5
Tibonile 2nd, 4th Merilyn 24th, Welile 49th, Tenanile 74th
Leopard ......................................0

LOBAMBA – On your marks, get set, we are ready for the final! This was the chant by Manzini Wanderers Ladies supporters as their team cruised to a 5-0 victory over Royal Leopard at Somhlolo National Stadium yesterday. This was after the second semi-final of the SwaziBank Ladies Cup, trading under the tagline Uyayifuna Na!

Young Buffaloes had started against Siteki Ladies and had an easy one, winning 11-0. Wanderers’ win set up a final with the strong army side, that beat them in the Women Football FA Cup Knockout finals last year. Wanderers reached the semi-finals after outfoxing Mbabane Swallows 3-0. Buffaloes got a bye as Mhlume Ladies had no playing cards and could not play their match in the quarter-finals.

Their rivals yesterday, Siteki Ladies and Royal Leopard, had beaten Southern Divas 3-0 and Lobamba Highlanders 14-2, respectively, in the quarters of the inaugural Ladies Cup. Back to the game, Wanderers were ahead in as early as the second minute through brace hero Tibonile Dlamini, who grabbed her second goal two minutes later. Troublesome striker Merilyn Sanga, who was signed from Mbekelweni, made it 3-0 in the half-hour mark with no response from Leopard, who were a shadow of their former selves.

Wanderers were too much for them, it could simply have been 5-0 in the first half but Tibonile and Merilyn were guilty of missing gilt-edged chances, with the former’s effort coming off the cross bar, while the other was a weak shot straight to the goalkeeper, Nozipho Sibandze’s hands.

However, the appetite for more goals was still there in the second half and again, Leopard was outplayed and not given any chance for a comeback despite trying to come back by hook or crook, but their efforts were all well read by the organised and youthful Wanderers, who impressed national coaches Dumisani ‘DU’ Makhanya, Siyabonga Bhembe and Friday Mncina as well as doctor Samkelo Mdluli, who were part of the more or less 200 crowd.

Finishing off the job for Wanderers and killing Leopard’s fight-back were goals from Welile Nxumalo four minutes into the second half, as well as Tenanile Ngcamphalala in the 74th. It was game over already and anything that Leopard tried, Wanderers’ defence, which was well marshalled by Man of the Match award winner Mazwi Nxumalo thwarted everything. Leopard had started the match without a warm-up and it showed in the opening minutes as they conceded two quick goals in succession.

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