‘BIRDS’ THREE-SHED!

(At Mavuso Sports Centre)
Swallows...........(0) 0,
Etoile.................(2) 3,
Karim 13th, Hannachi 31st, Amine 70th
MANZINI - It was all over in 31 minutes - 2-0 it was by then. The display by Mbabane Swallows was far from convincing and with 15 minutes left before the final whistle, a sizeable amount of fans started walking out while a majority endured the poor showing to the end. This was during the CAF Group D first leg tie of the group stages.

Positive was that the club’s loyalists started singing in unity and support until the last blow of the whistle and waved their club’s shirts and the  late team boss Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze’s special tribute t-shirts marked ‘Myekeleni Aphumule’.

Their rivals, Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel, were too much for them on the day and missed a host of scoring opportunities. They were on target in only 13 minutes with an easy header on the far post by winger Karim Aquadhi from a well weighted cross that fell behind the defence by second goalscorer Maher Hannachi.

Hannachi headed his own into the top right corner, sneaking behind defender Mandla Palma whose attempt to clear the long ball from the middle of the park failed. A number of chances went begging as Swallows was in sixies and sevens. It was not until the last 10 minutes of the first half that Tinyoni, as Swallows are fondly known, started showing a glimpse of what they are capable of but still did not trouble the visiting keeper, Achraf Krir.

Without the skilful Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze, who has joined South Africa’s PSL outfit, Swallows lacked the trickery and life he brought into their play, with young Richard Mccreesh, who was simply their best player on the day, and Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu trying but the rivals were all over them. The height factor also proved too much for Swallows, who were second fiddle in high balls.

However, given all the media stories regarding their preparations, it could have been worse. Also, they did not have new signees in striker Aladeon Kola and midfielder Xolani ‘Papi’ Sikhondze for this game.
The fans had been hopeful to see a quick goal in the second half given the high tempo Swallows finished in towards the break. It was not to be though as they never posed a threat at all and easily lost possession.

The fans even started shouting at them, accusing the players of not putting enough effort as their readiness looked suspect.
Just as the match progressed with no hope, Etoile netted a third.

It was a controversial goal by substitute winger Amine Chermite as the second assistant referee Drissa Kamory from Mali had flagged for off side. However, the Malian middleman Boubou Traore could hear none of it as protests from Swallows’ players and fans alike fell on deaf ears.

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