‘SIKHALI’ SE-DERBY!

My dearest readers ...

With a clenched fist, he stabbed the air then moved gingerly, flanked by two bodyguards; waving his hands to the adoring supporters before mimicking a ‘we will beat them’ sign as he made a grand entrance to the stadium. That was flamboyant Mbabane Highlanders Managing Director Chief Ally Kgomongwe at Mavuso Sports Centre on Sunday. God knows where he got all the confidence that his team would go on and beat their bitter rivals, Swallows, for the first time since April 3, 2016, in the MTN league. Kgomongwe’s decision to fire coach Ernest Mavuso and replace him with fellow South African mentor Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala just three days ahead of the big Mbabane derby now looks like a masterstroke. It could have easily backfired if Mbabane Swallows had continued with their league dominance of the derby, which had stretched to almost six years.

acrimonious

Highlanders’ divorce with Mavuso was acrimonious and if Mavuso lives up to his words to go the legal route, it could end up in the highest courts of the land. Be that as it may, Highlanders fortuitous 1-0 win courtesy of a 71st minute penalty by goal-a-game striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa – his 12th goal of the campaign – has vindicated Kgomongwe’s decision to bring the former TS sporting coach. This is the nature of the game of football. It is a game of good and bad decisions; reviews and reversals and the margins are so slim. So slim were the margins even on the pitch as it took just one opportunity for Highlanders to win the bragging rights of the capital city and annexed the three points, which has lifted them to the summit of the log standings.

Truth be told, Swallows should have gone to half-time at least 3-0 up after spurning early chances through Felix Badenhorst and Sandile Hlatjwako, who missed two gilt-edged chances that could have won the ‘Birds’ the game at a canter. It was not surprising too that the man of the match award deservedly went to Highlanders shot-stopper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala, who stood tall – literally and figuratively speaking – to win the game for ‘Inkunzemnyama’. Shabalala was not the only outstanding player at Highlanders as the defensive triumvirate of David Molekuli, Ndumiso ‘Tower’ Ndaba and Sanele Mkhweli thwarted everything thrown at them.

overshadowing

Banele ‘Stiga’ Ndzabandzaba played the game of his life in the belly of the park, overshadowing both Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu and Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze, who faded as the game went on and had to be substituted. This is perhaps where coach ‘Sly’ Mosala showed his tactical nous; deploying Ndzabandzaba to play the anchor-man role in the absence of Colani ‘Papi’ Sikhondze, and the talented midfielder outfoxed the experienced Ndlovu, in particular, with his excellent reading of the game and aerial presence. Before picking up an injury, he was my favourite for the ‘man of the match’ award after he turned the centre-circle into his oyster. While Highlanders did not create as many chances as Swallows did, they stuck to a well-laid game plan and defended as a unit. In the end, games of this magnitude, are always decided by one decision or one moment. It came in the 71st minute when defender Blandja Baba-Seidou upended a goal-bound ‘Sikhali’.

tense

Referee, Thulani Sibandze, who must be given credit for standing his ground in a tense encounter, had no option but to award the penalty. ‘Sikhali’ was sure-footed and hit the ball with zeal that Swallows goalkeeper Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza desperately tried to save it, but it had been hit with so much power it nestled in the far right corner of the net. Frenzied celebrations filled the Highlanders grandstand while you could have heard a pin drop in the filled-to-the-rafters Swallows grandstand. Highlanders’ victory, the first derby win since the 2-1 victory at Somhlolo National Stadium on April 3, 2016, has brought back a sense of belief in the ‘Black Bull’ kraal that this could be the year when they finally end the 21-year-wait to win the league title.

The country’s football aristocrats have not won the league title since the 2000/2001 season. Back then, ‘Sikhali’, who has scored 12 goals in 12 games, was still learning how to walk.
With three games now left before the curtain falls down on the first round, Highlanders have their noses in front. Yes, it still looks like a three-horse race for the E200 000 first round incentive with Highlanders, Leopard and Manzini Sea Birds all in the mix, but the ‘Black Bull’ have it in their sights. Leopard’s CAF Confederation Cup assignment where they face Algeria’s JS Kabylie and all the travelling hazards, might take its toll on Edwin Matsebula’s charges and by the time they come back from Algeria, they might be five points behind. Highlanders face hapless Tambuti FC on Sunday.

potential

They will then face a potential banana skin against Milling Hot Spurs at Mavuso Sports Centre on February 6 and then take on the police side in a do-or-die clash which could decide the first round champions in the ultimate ‘WEEK 15’. Leopard have a tougher route to the first round title as they have to face rejuvenated Young Buffaloes, unpredictable Vovovo FC, fellow first round title chasers, Manzini Sea Birds and of course Highlanders. Manzini Sea Birds, who missed a chance to go on top of the log standings on Saturday when they went down 0-1 to Milling Hot Spurs, have to face Moneni Pirates, the first round title chasers, Leopard and struggling Green Mamba. It’s a three-horse race for the E200 000 first round incentive, but in all honesty, Highlanders hold all the aces. It’s in their hands. They have the country’s deadliest striker in ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa; a flamboyant Managing Director in Ally Kgomongwe, who is not shy in taking prompt unpopular decisions and a sly-as-a-fox coach in Selaotse Mosala, whose tactical nous is already showing. GWAZA NKUNZI!

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