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BIG GUNS’ GLOOMY TRIP

03/12/2018 07:21:00 BY LWAZI DLAMINI

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Sports Editor
(At King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium)

NHLANGANO – The bigger they come, the harder they fall – and the iconic King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium just loves them.

Throngs of legendary sides Manzini Wanderers and Mbabane Highlanders supporters travelled the more than 100 kilometres to the iconic venue in high spirits but returned to their respective homes at a funeral pace after modest sides Manzini Sea Birds and Moneni Pirates inflicted pain and misery in the double header MTN Premier league fixture here yesterday in extraordinary circumstances.

Sleek Manzini Sea Birds dissected Manzini Wanderers as if it were a rabbit in a science laboratory tutorial session after recording a massive 4-1 win that was as exhilarating and shocking in equal measure. Eccentric winger, Bhekumuzi Mamba’s brace, Wandile Nhleko’s deft finish and a toe-poked goal by exciting winger and man of the match Muzi Tsabedze sandwiched a fortuitous Mike Dombo lone goal as inconsistent Manzini Wanderers suffered their heaviest defeat of a season that has seen the hub giants limp between the sub-standard and the ridiculous with unprecedented regularity.

If Wanderers’ performance and defeat was as ‘horrible’ as rightly described by a livid coach, Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe in the aftermath, Highlanders, demoralising defeat – the first of Zimbabwean coach Saul Chamunika since he took over the hot seat two months ago - left their boisterous fans feeling like they had just seen a tornado sweep across the modest venue. If the sound of referee Mbongiseni Fakudze’s final whistle signalling a hard-fought 2-1 victory for the Moneni Buccaneers left Highlanders filled-to-the-brim grandstand, which ironically they shared with the equally grieving ‘Weslians’, was quieter than the mortuary at this fast developing town, you could have heard a pin drop as the disenchanted fans left the small venue at a funeral pace.

Moneni Pirates Zimbabwean coach Tarisayi Changara was a picture perfect of excitement as his brave battalions castrated the ‘Black Bull’ with the precision of a surgeon in a manner that almost called for the intervention of the Animal Welfare Society.

Two quick goals in the last eight minutes before half time scored by former Highlanders striker Mphucuko ‘Smoothies’ Dlamini and an early Christmas gift by goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala to Lwazi Mamba left the ‘Black Bull’ a distant eight points behind first round winners Green Mamba with a game before the curtain falls down on what has been an exciting and unpredictable league first round.

The iconic King Sobhuza II Memorial stadium, refurbished by the Eswatini Football Association with funds from FIFA, is proving to be an arena of nightmares for the big guns of local football, in particular, Highlanders who have shed many tears and endured many a torturous trip to this modest venue. It was no different yesterday as, together with Wanderers, they suffered shocking defeats that left their throngs of supporters miffed and piqued.