LEOPARD HAVE THEIR NOSES IN FRONT

My dearest readers ...

Statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is suggestive but what they conceal is vital. Aaron Levenstein uttered these words many moons ago but they still ring true to this day. Now get your mind out of the gutter. Unbeaten in 25 games; 21 wins and four draws; have scored the highest number of goals (55) and conceded the least (14); have accumulated the highest number of points (67) with nearest challengers Young Buffaloes six points behind. That’s the amazing story of police side, Royal Leopard, with five games remaining in what has already snowballed into a two horse race between the security forces sides.

‘Ingwe Mabalabala’ 2-0 win over Mbabane Swallows on Sunday at KaLanga Technical Centre effectively kicked out the capital city giants from the title race. Thirteen points behind with five games remaining in both the country’s two official languages means it is impossible for Christopher Ennin’s charges to catch up with the police side and now they can only keep fighting for the second place position which carries a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup. When Leopard lost the E350 000 first round carrot in extra ordinary circumstances after playing to a goalless draw against Manzini Wanderers on May 22 at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium, it looked like they would crumble or not recover from that heartache. But Edwin Matsebula and his troops picked themselves up and kept their eyes on the grand prize. It speaks to their never-say-die spirit, resilience and team work.

They have been resolute to the end. The police side has been displaying the same irrepressible traits that came like second nature when they won the Holy Grail of Eswatini football three times in a row – 2013/14 to 2015/16 season. This time they have taken it up a notch – unbeaten in 25 games. Can they finish the entire season unbeaten? It remains to be seen. They face unpredictable Manzini Wanderers tomorrow before playing what is potentially a league title decider against nearest challengers Young Buffaloes this forthcoming weekend.  If the police side manage to keep the army side on arm’s length even with a draw, methinks, they deserve to be called the league uncrowned champions.

different

One thing that has been very different about the police side this season is that goals have come from almost everybody. They have not relied on certain players like Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini and Thabiso Monkenkoane but the likes of Sifiso ‘Junior’ Magagula, the twins, Lungelo and Fanelo Tsabedze, Zweli ‘Mlilo’ Nxumalo have all contributed with crucial goals. The indefatigable Sifiso ‘Junior’ Magagula, for me, has been outstanding. He is actually the wind beneath their wings.  His eye-in-the-needle defence freezing passes, his tigerish tackles and booming shots. Five years without winning the coveted league title is a long time for a team that normally wins the league three times in a row.

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