LEOPARD HELD, ‘BULL’ STAY TOP

NHLANGANO – A bitter pill to swallow for defending champions Royal Leopard.

This is moreso because Manzini Wanderers proved once again why they are Leopard’s hoodoo side after holding the defending MTN Premier League champions to a goalless draw yesterday. The result is not what Leopard wanted as a win would have seen them back at the summit of the log, two points ahead of current leaders Mbabane Highlanders, whose form is one that says they will be hard to dislodge as the first round’s E200 000 incentive race heats up.

Highlanders went ahead of Leopard after their 4-2 win over Green Mamba last Saturday. Leopard’s result also means they are now level on 13 points with Highlanders, but due to superior goal difference, the latter are at the top after five matches as the former sits on second. ‘Ingwe Mabalabala’ did their best to try and get the maximum points, but Wanderers also had their own plans and were solid at the back where former national team Sihlangu Semnikati and Mbabane Swallows defender Mandla Palma led with aplomb.

Interestingly, the game was a replica of the 2020/21 first round grand closing match where Wanderers denied Leopard the E350 000 first round incentive when they held them to a goalless draw at this venue while Young Buffaloes won their match and pocketed the incentive. This was a Week Five fixture which played yesterday following the indefinite postponement of Leopard’s TOTALEnergies CAF Confederation Cup second leg match against Algeria’s JS Kabylie that was billed for last Sunday.

Back to the match, Leopard could have easily won but wayward shooting and misfortune by their forwards and midfilders saw them come out with no goals and a one point. They were so unfortunate that they hit the woodwork four times in the duration of the game goalkeeper Sandile Mhlanga beaten in all occasions.

Leopard started the game with an upper hand as expected but struggled to finish up front. Striker Barry Steenkamp who started ahead of Thabiso Mokenkoane could not believe it inside the opening 15 minutes when his well taken ground shot missed target by inches. Two minutes later Junior Magagula hit the upright after a goalmouth scramble inside the 18 area. It was chance after chance for Leopard towards the end of the first half but all in vain.

The second half saw both teams creating scoring chances. In the first opening minute, Leopard’s Menzi Sithole was second to hit the upright. Five minutes from the hour mark, Sikhumbuzo Magagula’s header from a Bonginkhosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini corner hit the cross bar and another chance went begging when Junior Magagula’s shot also hit the cross bar. Frustration was written all over the faces of Leopard and with 20 minutes remaining on the clock, Wanderers were now the threatening team in front of goal.

However, the likes of Fabrice Mopina and the troublesome and exciting young midfielder Bandile Shabangu were also closely watched but the latter, despite beign subbed towards the end, put up a man of the match performance but his coach Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe felt the need to make a tactical change for a defender. In the end, it was a share of the spoils for the clubs who have tough games again this weekend. Leopard face their security forces foes Green Mamba while Wanderers have a date with army side Young Buffaloes who are yet to hit their best form.

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