‘BUFFS’, SWALLOWS IN DRAB DRAW

Sports Editor

(At Mavuso Sports Centre)

Mb. Swallows...............(0) 0,

Young Buffaloes............(0) 0,

MANZINI – In the end, the two teams touted as firm league title favourites failed to score as they settled for a drab draw here yesterday.

In a game of two halves, the two teams, who ended as number one and two in the cancelled 2019/2020 season, created not enough chances in a tactical game which saw emotions run high as the players battled for supremacy. 

talented

Swallows welcomed back former internationals Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze and Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu with lavishly talented youngster Leon Manyisa also making his debut for the red and white outfit. The trio combined beautifully in a diamond-shaped formation, but they could not break down a water-tight Young Buffaloes, especially with striker Sandile Hlatshwako isolated upfront. Swallows were as toothless upfront as a pokemon.

On the other hand, Young Buffaloes started slowly, perhaps owing to having arrived in the country on Thursday after their Total CAF Champions League sojourn in Burundi, and only became lively in the second half where they created at least three gilt-edged chances to almost snatch all three points.

After enjoying a lion’s share of the possession in the opening stanza, Swallows almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time when veteran captain Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze, drifted in midfield by new coach Christopher Ennin, saw his rasping free-kick ricochet off the bar.

The army side came back a more inventive side in the second half, forcing Swallows goalkeeper, Sandanezwe Mathabela to pull off a brilliant one-handed save to deny Mpendulo Dlamini from point-blank range in the 52nd minute.

Wing wizard, Fanelo ‘Order’ Mamba could not believe his eyes when his glancing header after Ali Matse’s inviting cross missed the target by inches in the 60th minute. Buffaloes coach Sabelo Mnisi buried his head in his hands when substitute Bongwa Matsebula failed to take advantage of a hesitant Swallows keeper, Sandanezwe Mathabela, who had come off his line only for his shot to disturb flying birds behind the goalposts.

In the end, the two teams shared the spoils, not giving much away on the opening fixture of the new season in the COVID-19 pandemic era.

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