GREEN MAMBA BREAK INTO TOP 4

MBABANE – Green Mamba are back in the hunt for the MTN Premier League title they won in the 2018/19 season, after defying all odds to bang home the maximum points on Sunday.

The Correctional Services outfit needed a 40th minute header by the menacing Kwenzokuhle Khumalo to outsmart the hard-fighting Malanti Chiefs who, it must be said, deserved at least a share of spoils in this game. Khumalo benefitted from a goalkeeping lapse by Malanti’s Xolani Mngometulu, who could not hold onto a cross from the industrious Mthunzi ‘Xavi’ Mkhontfo. The win takes Green Mamba to third spot on the current log table after six games played, just three behind pace-setters Young Buffaloes with a game in hand. They are joint third with Mbabane Swallows but the Mbabane giants have a better goal difference.

While their goal return is not bad as they have managed to rattle the net eight times but their coach Caleb Ngwenya would be worried that his defence has already conceded six goals in the same number of games played. On the balance of play against Malanti, Green Mamba were rather fortunate at the end to take home all the points as the Pigg’s Peak based outfit did not take defeat lying down. They were only let down by poor finishing as they made Green Mamba to sweat blood for the win.

However, the Correctional Services outfit created the better of the scoring chances but ‘Xavi’, despite enjoying much of the ball possession, could not find the target. He gave the opposition defence a tough time everytime he was in possession of the ball but his final ball let him down most of the time. He appeared selfish at times when passing to a team-mate looked the better option. He was unfortunate three minutes into the game when his glancing header was cleared off the line. Defender Sanele Dlamini should have done better in the 5th minute when he came face to face with Mngometulu after a pass from ‘Xavi’ but he fired straight to the welcoming hands of the goalkeeper.

At this stage, Green Mamba were making constant inroads into Malanti’s defence and came close to taking the lead in the 35th minute but Khumalo’s shot was cleared off the goalline after a brilliant pass from the impressive Njabulo Thwala. He, however, made amends five minutes later which what proved to be the decisive goal at the end.

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