’LANDERS, ‘BUFFS’ IN A DRAB DRAW

Sports Editor

(At Somhlolo National Stadium)
Mb. Highlanders.........(0) 0,
Young Buffaloes..........(0) 0,

LOBAMBA – Wasteful Mbabane Highlanders and Young Buffaloes laboured to a goalless draw before less than 1 000 fans in a lukewarm MTN League clash here yesterday. 

Unsurprisingly Mbabane Highlanders fans celebrated the goalless stalemate as if it were a win given the dominance displayed by the army side over the ‘Black Bull’ last season. In the first round clash, played on October 31, 2017, Dominic Kunene’s charges walloped the black and white ensemble 4-0 before cruising to a 3-1 win in the second round on Sunday, April 29 this year at the self-same Somhlolo National Stadium.

Yesterday, Highlanders under the guidance of assistant coach, Bongani Mhlongo following the resignation of South African born mentor, Mlungisi ‘Professor’ Ngubane, once again tinkered with their starting line-up. Midfielder, Mncedisi Dlamini was stationed at an unfamiliar right full back position with always revolving Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze playing as a winger. The changes invited the army side to keep peppering their danger zone with probing moves as the defence led by Moses Jimoh was under constant pressure from the likes of Phiwa Dlamini and Ndoda Mthethwa.

Phiwa Dlamini, uncharacteristically off-form, missed a sitter in the half-hour mark when Ndoda Mthethwa dispatched him with a lacerating through pass. The Sihlangu striker fired woefully wide. Some grandmothers around the country would have converted the chance blindfolded while waiting for their monthly grants.

Highlanders fans were livid when referee, Thembinkosi Dlamini waved play on when Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze was fouled inside the box by defender, Wandile Maseko a minute before half-time. It was a horrendous refereeing decision and dereliction of duty from the country’s reigning Referee of the Year.

‘Sawa’ was unlucky when his blistering shot on the edge of the box was bravely saved by Buffaloes goalkeeper, Nhlanhla Gwebu three minutes after the recess. The fast improving Mbabane Highlanders Mxolisi Dlamini pulled off a great stop two minutes later when he bravely blocked a Wandile Maseko humdinger shot from inside the box after one of the army side probing moves.

It was, however, Highlanders who almost scored the winner eight minutes before full-time when midfield maestro Vusimuzi Zungu thunderbolt shot from 25 yards out was blocked by Nhlanhla Gwebu before Buffaloes defender, Sihlangu Mkhwanazi cleared their lines.

The referee, Thembinkosi Dlamini, who made a number of controversial decisions, blew for full time provoking an uncharacteristic cheer from the Highlanders grand-stand after managing to add another point to take their tally to four points and most importantly, avoiding a third consecutive league defeat to their nemesis from the army barracks.

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