‘WESLIANS’ LICK SPURS, NOW IN TOP FOUR

MANZINI – No money, no problems for Manzini Wanderers as they yesterday edged Milling Hot Spurs by a solitary goal to enter the top four in the MTN Premier League.

The hub giants had only a day to prepare for the match and bravely went all the way to win it amid reports of no June salaries for players and the technical bench. A well curled free-kick from 25 yards by Neliswa Dlamini was enough to hand the Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe-led charges the crucial three points that saw them overtake Mbabane Highlanders in the log but the latter have a pending game. The win saw Wanderers completing a double over Hot Spurs as they beat them 2-1 in the first round fixture played on April 10, 2021 at the same venue. Wanderers’ players shunned the team’s activities in the past week due to unpaid salaries and the league break. The team had only Monday to prepare for the match and they played yesterday still having not received their June salaries.

The game kicked off at lunch hour to give the teams enough time to beat the curfew at 6pm. It started on a very slow pace with either not threatening. The goalkeepers had nothing to do in the first half and one could mistake the match as a training session.
Both teams made changes at the start of the second half with Hot Spurs resting the duo of Mhlonishwa Ndlovukazi and Lungelo Mngometulu for Linda Msibi and Sanele Dlamini respectively. Wanderers shortly made three changes with the trio of Paballo Yende, Siboniso Ndzabandzaba and Xolani Ngwenya for Njabulo Magongo, Thembisa Shabangu and Mpendulo Magagula. Those changes in both teams brought life to the game as they started to create scoring chances.

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It was Wanderers who had to take first effort through Fabrice Mopina’s shot which was brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper for a fruitless corner kick. Milling could have taken the lead with quarter of an hour before full time but Wanderers goalkeeper Mxolisi Dlamini saved a well-taken header by Sikhumbuzo Ndwandwe. Hot Spur’s duo of Lwazi Bhembe and Mlungisi Ngwenya were guilty for fouling Wanderers Majahesibili ‘Gigg’s Dlamini from 25 yards. Neliswa Dlamini made no mistake his shot went straight for the net with the goalkeeper Mlungisi Mamba beaten. That was enough as Wanderers controlled the match until the referee Mciniseli Sithole blew the final whistle. Hot Spurs sits comfortably in mid table with 30 points with six games remaining before the season ends. Hot Spurs plays Mbabane Swallows in the next fixture on Sunday at Mavuso Sports Centre, kickoff is 11am while Manzini Wanderers will take a break as their opponents in week 25, Royal Leopard, have more than two players with the national team, Sihlangu currently in the COSAFA Cup.

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