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BACK SWALLOWS!

12/08/2021 08:31:00 BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO

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MBABANE – Call it ‘Black Wednesday’ for Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows!

Yesterday’s 0-1 defeat by the MTN Premier League champions, Royal Leopard, confirmed the Pigg’s Peak based side’s fate after two seasons in the elite league. They have now joined Mhlume Peacemakers, who got the chop last Saturday after a 2-1 defeat to Green Mamba. Black Swallows finished the season second from the bottom of the 16 team-league. They could only accumulate 25 points after the 30th game yesterday. Black Swallows survived the axe in the 2019/ 20 season as there were no clubs relegated following the COVID-19 pandemic and this time around there was no one to save them except themselves. They could not be saved from the dreaded relegation axe.

Black Swallows’ demotion saw Tambankulu Callies, who were also in the relegation quagmire, surviving the axe after beating Malanti Chiefs 4-0 yesterday at Killarney Sports Ground. Malanti Chiefs jumped to safety on Saturday after a shocking 1-0 win against Leopard to hand them their first defeat of the season.

Stronger

Leopard fielded a changed squad from the one that lost 0-1 to Malanti Chiefs on Saturday. They fielded a stronger team that had an upper hand from the start of the game and Black Swallows showed braveness as they were able to hold them for the first 45 minutes. Leopard started with third choice goalkeeper Mlamuli Makhanya and the trio of Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini, Bonginkhosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini, Zweli ‘Mlilo’ Nxumalo and Thabiso Mokenkoane in the match while on Saturday they were all on the sidelines. Black Swallows, who went to the match with all odds stacked against them, should thank their goalkeeper, Bheka Christie, who displayed good skills to stop Leopard from finding the back of the net in the first half.

In the last five minutes of the first half, Christie had to make a double save from a free-kick taken by Sifiso ‘Junior’ Magagula and he gave hope to his teammates as Tambankulu Callies and Malanti Chiefs were on a goalless stalemate at the time at the Killarney Sports Ground. The relegation battle was between Black Swallows and Tambankulu Callies and they were playing with different opponents at different venues. Black Swallows’ Andile Sukati was left frustrated after missing a goal from two yards out side the box as it was cleared off the line five minutes into the second half. He was back five minutes later only for Leopard goalkeeper Mlamuli Makhanya to tip the ball over the bar.

Leopard trio of Thabiso Mokenkoane, Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini and Bonginkhosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini were all guilty for failing to convert upfront. Leopard coach Edwin Matsebula made changes and brought in Bongani Dlamini for Thabiso Mokenkoane. Five minutes into the game, Dlamini finished off after scramble in the 18 area. That was the end of Black Swallows’ campaign in the Premier League and their relegation is expected to be confirmed on August 21 during the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Annual General meeting (AGM).