ROYAL 1ST ROUND CHAMPS!

MANZINI – Royal first round MTN Premier League Champions!

MTN Premier league defending champions Royal Leopard sent the ‘black and white’ part of the capital city into perpetual agony last night, when they clinched the E200 000 first round ‘carrot’ in emphatic fashion, following a well deserved 2-0 victory here yesterday. A simple tap-in by striker Bongani Dlamini in the 25th minute and a goal-poacher’s finish by ‘man of the match’ Sifiso ‘Junior’ Magagula six minutes from time, were enough to spoil an expectant Highlanders’ party as the police side opened up a two-point lead in the half-way mark of the season. It was an amazing bouncing back from the humiliating 6-2 loss to South Africa’s Orlando Pirates CAF Confederation Cup Group B clash on Sunday by the resilient Edwin Matsebula-led outfit, which left the over 1 000 Highlanders fans shell-shocked more than the Ukrainians at the invasion of the brutal force of the Russians this week. Having led for the past three months, Highlanders needed a draw to win the E200 000 first round ‘carrot’ for the first time since the 2015/16 season, but floundered about like blind mice even when the police side were one man down from the 55th minute of the game, after defender Mancoba Maseko had been sent off for a crude tackle on Simphiwe Manana.

Instead it was Leopard, who looked fatigued in the better part of the second half, who were cool, calm and collected, managing the game with ease and in the midfield dynamo, ‘Junior’ was a man who dictated the tempo of the game and he was as hot as blue blazes. Highlanders, who were left to rue the missed chances they got in the game, looked worn out and tactically bankrupt. They should have heeded the warning signs in the 20th minute when Barry Steenkamp’s blistering shot sailed over the bar after hesitant defending by Highlanders defenders, David Molekuli and Ndumiso ‘Tower’ Ndaba. Five minutes later, Leopard took the lead when ‘Junior’ well-weighted cross on the right flank was tapped into the net by the unmarked Bongane Dlamini.

Save

Highlanders Managing Director Chief Ally Kgomongwe had just arrived in the VIP section. Highlanders should have equalised four minutes into the second half when the best chance of the day fell on the feet of Philane Mkhontfo. Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa shrugged off defender Mlamuli Msibi to lay an inch-perfect pass to the unmarked Mkhontfo, but with all the time in the world to control and pick his spot, his shot was bravely blocked by Leopard goalkeeper Ncamiso ‘Mbhonyo’ Dlamini for no doubt what stands to be the save of the season. Leopard coach Matsebula responded by making a triple substitution in the 50th minute, bringing in Thabiso Mokenkoane, Thokozane Dlamini, Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini for scorer, Bongani, Lungelo Tsabedze and Barry Steenkamp. Two minutes later, defender Maseko was sent off for crude tackle on Simphiwe Manana and Highlanders continued to pile the pressure looking for an equaliser. It was one counter-attack six minutes from time that allowed Mokenkoane to feed the ball to the marauding ‘Junior’, who, as cool as ice, showed excellent composure to pick his spot and extinguished Highlanders first round champions title hopes. It must have felt like a stab in the heart of the Highlanders fan who then started to leave the modest in droves as a motley group of about 30 Leopard fans celebrated like nobody was watching.  

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