Home | Sports | ‘BULL’ EDGE CLOSER TO E200K FIRST ROUND CARROT

‘BULL’ EDGE CLOSER TO E200K FIRST ROUND CARROT

01/02/2022 08:32:00 Lwazi Dlamini

Font size:

MBABANE – Week-by-week, the country’s football aristocrats, Mbabane Highlanders, are edging closer to the E200 000 first round ‘carrot’.

With Royal Leopard having played to a 2-2 draw with unpredictable Vovovo FC yesterday, Highlanders’ 3-1 victory over hapless Tambuti FC on Sunday now looks even merrier. Highlanders lead by four points over nearest challengers Manzini Sea Birds, with two games remaining before the end of the first round. While Highlanders edged closer to the first round title, it finally rained in the Kalahari Desert AS Malanti Chiefs won their first of the season 2-0 against Milling Hot Spurs on Sunday. The country’s deadliest striker, Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, netted a brace to take his tally to 14, five goals ahead of nearest challenger, Sea Birds striker Muzi Tsabedze. Here are the eight things we learnt in ‘Week 13’ of the enthralling MTN league 2021/2022 season.

Winless Tambuti fail to follow protocol
Tambuti had to be cautioned by the fourth official, Mbongeni Myeni, after they went out of their dressing room without following the protocol. Players, after card checking, are supposed to move out of the tunnel along each other straight into the field of play. They were recalled when they were inside the field to do the right thing.

‘Sly’ consistently moveS out of his technical area
It really baffled some Tambuti and neutral football fans when Mbabane Highlanders Coach Selaotse ‘Sly’ Mosala kept moving out of his technical area. Once or twice is okay, but when the coach crosses this golden rule, the fourth official should advise him to follow protocol. In this instance, fourth Official Mbongeni Myeni did not even bring him to order. There is one picture where ‘Sly’ is out of his technical area chatting with the fourth official. Imagine!

‘Bull’ fans mock Tambuti
It was interesting how Mbabane Highlanders went out of their way to come with orange trees and also munched some of the fruits. That was creative in a way because Tambuti is associated with the plantation of oranges. However, in one way or the other, some Tambuti officials must have found this mockery a bit offensive. Football fans have a way of bringing colour to the games.

Fans bow to ‘Sikhali’... He getS CR7 attention
It was heart-warming to see how Mbabane Highlanders and football fans alike, bow to Mbabane Highlanders’ Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa’s good run of scoring form. After Highlanders’ 3-1 over Tambuti, where ‘Sikhali’ scored a brace, the fans waited for him and shook his hand. He got the attention which usually Cristiano Ronaldo gets after scoring for Manchester United. It is really good local fans respecting and showing love to one hardworking footballer.

Times van loaded with Marula fruits
The Times of Eswatini vehicle was found with plastic bags full of marula fruits left by unknown people. This was discovered by the driver after the MTN Premier League game between Tambankulu Callies and Manzini Wanderers, which was played at Tambankulu Stadium on Saturday. The driver, after seeing that no one came for the ‘fruits’, was forced to take them off the van. What a surprise! Next guys please leave water bottles, we would appreciate them because water is indeed life!

Green Mamba ball boys’ delaying tactics
The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) should address the issue of ball boys as they apply delaying tactics when their teams are leading. This was evident during the MTN Premier League game between hosts Green Mamba against Denver Sundowns. As Green Mamba were leading, the ball boys were seen relaxing when the ball was out of play, another was seen throwing two balls into the field of play at the same time.

Colourful Denver Sundowns fans
It was a colourful sight-seeing the over 20 visiting Denver Sundowns fans cheering their team during the game again. They were dressed in the team’s colours as they sang from the start of the game until the end.

Finally it rains in the Kalahari desert
Malanti Chiefs, after playing 1080 minutes of football without a win, finally got one on Sunday against Milling Hot Spurs at Killarney sports ground. Malanti Chiefs coach Raymond Dlamini had said previously that his biggest wish was to end the first round with eight points and now his side has six points, which could make his wish come true. It finally rained in the Kalahari desert!

Star player of the week
(Sabelo Ndzinisa – Highlanders)
What is there to say that has not been said about the free-scoring man from Ntshanini? Even our erudite scribes are running out of superlatives to describe his goal-scoring exploits this season. His brace on Sunday took his goal tally to 14. He is now five goals ahead of nearest challenger Muzi Tsabedze of Manzini Sea Birds. Bravo ‘Sikhali’.

Come to think of ot:
* Malanti Chiefs finally won their first game after 13 matches while Tambuti FC remain the only winless team in the elite league, just like Rail United in the National First Division league.
* Free-scoring striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa has scored three braces this season including the opening match against Young Buffaloes at the King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium.
* Highlanders are the league’s highest scoring team (31 goals) and have also conceded the least (8).
* Young Buffaloes have been on a five-match winning streak which has lifted the army side to position four on the log standings.