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‘BIRDS’ NEED MORE THAN JUST A PRAYER

21/08/2018 02:13:00 BY Lwazi's Pandora's Boxs

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My dearest readers ... As my charismatic pastor, Ken Lukumba of the Straight Gate International in Sidvwashini is wont to say, “God helps those who help themselves.”

I have not gone through the holy book with a fine tooth comb but I have no doubt, given a chance, Lukumba, a self-confessed Swallows and FC Barcelona fan, would pass on the same message to the distraught Mbabane Swallows players as the stark reality of being knocked out of CAF’s premium club competition looms large.

I listened attentively as coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati told the hacks inside the small press conference room at Mavuso Sports Centre after the four minutes of madness culminated to another 3-0 pasting at home, this time by a sleek Zambia’s Zesco United, that his team now needed a ‘prayer’ for results elsewhere to go their way. Vilakati was obviously hoping Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel would do them a favour by beating Angola’s Club Desportivo on the same day in an evening kick-off at the Olympique de Sousse Stadium.

He had watched in anguish his charges fall apart like the Red Sea at Moses’ behest in biblical times as the nippy Zambian striker, Lazarous Kambole snatched one of the fastest hat-tricks in continental football in just under four minutes. CAF has since acknowledged this fact which I presented in my report on Saturday (Yes, allow me to gloat...hehehe). A CAF Champions League campaign that had began so wonderfully with a credible 1-all draw away in Ndola on May 5; a fortuitous 1-0 win at home against Angola’s Club Desportivo on May 15, has been punctuated by three deflating losses against Etiole du Sahel (3-0 at home on July 17) and 2-0 away in Tunisia on July 27 and Saturday’s disastrous 3-0 defeat to Zesco, leaving Swallows’ chances of qualifying for the knockout stages shrinking quicker than woolly jumpers in a hot tumble dryer.

On Saturday, Swallows looked as scary as a vegetarian lion. Their defence had more holes than Swiss cheese. Goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela handed out schoolboy goalkeeping howlers like free chilli-sauce sachets with a takeaway meal in restaurants.
Swallows’ early optimism didn’t last longer than MTN Eswatini data.

I have no doubt now that coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati is a God-fearing man who worships at Johannes Mazibuko’s Mbabane Alliance because his prayers were answered later on Saturday night. We were tucking in some pizza with my blood cousin, Mabandla Bhembe, the soccer commentator from SBIS, in my humble place of abode watching TV when Angola’s Club Desportivo led 1-0 for a good 86 minutes before the Tunisian side snatched a late equaliser. I nonchalantly rubbed my chin which has seen some grey hair waging guerrilla warfare with my beard in recent times in sheer unbridled joy. I slept with a wry smile on my face like a baby knowing the red and white glamour side had lived to see another day in the CAF Champions League.

In as far as prayers are concerned, as Matthew 22: 32-34 reads, the man above, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, had given Swallows a life-line once again in extra-ordinary circumstances.

But as the man of God would often say, ‘God helps those who help themselves’. The onus is on Swallows to take the initiative and help themselves. Yes, they will still need to pray that Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel avoids defeat in Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium next Tuesday but they have to do the business at the artistic 11 Novembro Stadium in Luanda against the Angolans. Swallows need no reminder that this is an unenviable task.

They would need all the energy they can muster to beat the Angolans at home, especially if you consider how many chances Zoran Manojlovic’s charges missed during the 0-1 loss at Mavuso Sports Centre courtesy of a Felix Badenhorst strike on May 15. I still recall vividly three one-hand saves made by the brave Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza, as the Angolans invaded Swallows rearguard like hungry monkeys on an unguarded maize field. With the defensive triumvirate of Mandla Palma, Ndumiso Ndaba and Stanley Umukora provoking pity at the slightest pressure, Koki and his technical bench will need superglue to keep the Angolans at bay.

I am saying this kindly. It will be more than just sheer defensive work that will do the trick but Swallows need to end their profligacy in front of goal. The mere fact that in the past three games, watching Swallows has been like watching soft porn – all the right moves but no penetration, should be worrisome to Koki and Co. It may not be in their hands right now but the God of second chances has given them a life-long. It’s up to them to take it or throw it away just like they have done in the past three defeats. Now, this is a real do or die; kill or be killed and a must-win clash in the truest sense!
Lord have mercy ...