PHIWA INSPIRES ‘BUFFS’ TO 10TH LEAGUE WIN

TAMBANKULU – Young Buffaloes lanky striker Phiwa Dlamini’s first half-time strike was enough to hand them a 1-0 win over Denver Sundowns here yesterday.

Dlamini did not only help the army side to their 10th win in the current campaign, but he also ensured that he was still among the top scorers with eight goals in 12 games. The win for the army side did not only cement their top spot with 31 points, but also ensured that they were within touching distance to the first round E350 000 ‘carrot’, with three games to go.

defeat

Although the defeat for Sundowns did not make any changes in the log standings as they remain in the ninth position with 15 points, it should spell trouble for new head coach Manuel Moiane as in the past six games, they lost four games and only managed to win two. It should worry the coach as consistency is the key in the league. The game was evenly balanced with both teams having a fair share of ball possession, but it was the team that took their chances which was the winner on the day. The defending champions had a bright start, scoring just 10 minutes before the half-hour mark through talisman Phiwa. He tapped in from Bongwa Matsebula’s cross which was spilled into play by goalkeeper Bernard Ayikwei. The visiting side was close to levelling matters in the 35 minutes through  returning Darren Christie, but Nhlanhla Gwebu did well to keep the score at 1-0. The game went into the breather with the home side enjoying the one goal cushion.

After resumption, the Moiane were firing in all cylinders and almost came to making it 1-1 in the 55 minutes through Phinda Ginindza’s long strike. Mike Dombo’s header in the hour mark was parried for a fruitless corner by Nhlanhla Gwebu. Sundowns were forced to replace Ayikwei after a muscle pull for Lwethu Simelane, who spent almost a year overseas for a possible Denmark deal that never materialised. Simelane was called  into action stopping a dangerous Bongwa Matsebula cross that was destined for Phiwa Dlamini in the 65 minutes. Mpendulo ‘Mpetsa’ Dlamini thought he had handed the home side a healthy lead, but he saw his thunderous volley missing the target by inches in the 70th minute. Simelane was at Sundowns’ rescue once again in the 75th minute pulling a beautiful save from a Saviola powerful shot. Phiwa had to be replaced by Banele Mkhabela with 10 minutes to go and the latter almost made it 2-0, but his shot deflected the opposition defenders for a fruitless corner.

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