LEAGUE’S TOP BRASS!

MANZINI – Lucky!

Royal Leopard were lucky to take home the maximum points against Moneni Pirates in the MTN Premier League when they were handed a controversial penalty in additional time by referee Celumusa Siphepho. Mathokoza Thwala made no mistake from the spot- kick. The win saw the police ensemble maintaining the six points lead at the top of the MTN Premier League from defending champions Young Buffaloes, who are second with 49 points after their 3-0 win over Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows yesterday. The penalty handed by the referee for a foul on Leopard’s Sifiso Matse by Meshack Lushaba left Pirates’ bench hopping mad.

explanation

The referee with his assistants had to wait for about five minutes inside the field of play after the game as some Pirates officials were waiting at the tunnels for an explanation from the referees on why they awarded the spot-kick. It was Royal Leopard’s 17th win after 21 games. Leopard is fresh from a 5-2 win over Milling Hot spurs on Wednesday at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium. Pirates, who fought bravely throughout the game, are still not safe from the axe as they are fifth from the bottom with 19 points. The game started with the police side dominating and clear chances fell on their way but they failed to utilise them. Leopard forward Bonginkhosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini could have given the police side the lead 15 minutes in when his shot went straight to the arms of the goalkeeper, Bhekisisa Dlamini.

troubling

In the half hour mark, Dlamini was back against troubling the Pirates defence but his well taken shot was bravely saved by Pirates goalkeeper Bhekisisa. It was chance after chance for Leopard towards the closing stage of the first half but their forwards Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini, Lungelo Tsabedze and Bonginkhosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini failed to convert. In the second half, Pirates were a better side. Despite approaching the game in a defensive manner under coach Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini, they squandered some chances that came their way through counter-attacks.  They created more scoring chances than their opponents but failed to convert and thanks to the brilliance of Leopard returnee goalkeeper Phephisani Msibi.

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