‘SAWA-FUL’ FOR WESLIANS!

(At Mavuso Sports Centre)
G. Mamba... (0)0
Leopard....... (0)1
Fanelo 83rd

MANZINI – A lone strike by Royal Leopard midfielder Fanelo Tsabedze spoilt what could have been a treasured outing for MTN Premier League first round champions Green Mamba.

Having won the E350 000 first round ‘carrot’ even before kicking the ball at the rain-soaked Mavuso Sports Centre, victory would have been an icing on top of the cake. However, Caleb Ngwenya’s men got more than they had bargained for against the fellow security forces ensemble who condemned them to their third defeat of the campaign.

The hosts had played out of character, but finishing the first round five points clear at the top was consolation.
For Edwin Matsebula’s troops, it was renewed hope in their pursuit for the league title, as they shot to 24 points. They have since slashed Green Mamba’s lead to six points.

Defeat would have been like a stab in the heart for the visitors who won the midfield battle and had restricted Green Mamba to route one football, which saw them sweeping long balls from the back in search for marksman Musa Dlamini upfront.

Leopard had dominated the early exchanges, but Green Mamba’s duo of Njabulo Thwala and Musa came closest to find an opener, but their attempts were cleared to safety.

Leopard still had nothing to show for their daring display in the goal-less opening period, even though Muzi  ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini came closest to scoring after stinging Thokozani Mkhulisi’s gloves with a hard shot in the 42nd minute.

Leopard were still on the front foot on resumption of play, and Sikhumbuzo ‘Chaka’ Ntimane almost punished Green Mamba with a rocket which ricocheted off the woodwork from a Bonginkhosi Dlamini corner kick in the 58th minute.

With Musa submerged upfront, the home side attempted to ask questions from long range. Phephisani Msibi was equal to the task when defender Thabiso Gumbi tried to beat him with an audacious effort from about 23 yards.

The breakthrough was worth the wait for the away side. After good interplay, Fanelo stole the show in the absence of injured twin brother Lungelo, as he beat the goalkeeper with a low but hard shot from the edge of the box seven minutes from time.

Green Mamba tried to respond five minutes later through a Mxolisi Mkhontfo hard shot from a free kick outside the box, but Phephisani parried it to safety to help his team grind out the result on the road. When referee Mbongeni Shongwe signalled for the end of the proceedings, Green Mamba endured more minutes in the rain as they picked up their E350 000 replica cheque from MTN Eswatini’s Meshack Maseko and Premier League of Eswatini Chairman Peter ‘Touch’ Magagula.

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