BIRDS LICK TINYOSI, JUMP TO 3RD

MANZINI – As per the meaning of the goalscorer Nhlanhla Ngwenya’s name, Mbabane Swallows were lucky to get all three points yesterday against an impressive Tinyosi.

Nhlanhla translates to luck. They scored in seven minutes from time after captain Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze, who rescued an otherwise dramatic match as the referee Celumusa Siphepho made two decisions that left fans talking – two yellow cards to goalkeepers Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza (Swallows) and Tinyosi’s Sisekelo Maseko. Swallows jumped to third, leapfrogging Young Buffaloes who had their match today. The goal came after these two incidents and was scored after Tsabedze’s 25 yards humdinger ricochet off the crossbar and hit the ground in the six yards with the defence struggling to clear as Swallows also pressed for the rebound and the keeper blocked the first attempt before Ngwenya got the ball on his feet, a few yards off the line and steered it past the goal-line to the lower corner in the near post. This was much to the jubilation of the over 300 Swallows supporters and officials.

Created better chances

It had otherwise been Tinyosi’s game, especially in the second half where they created better chances than Swallows who struggled on the day and suffered a setback when Felix was injured in early in the second half and got replaced with Tsabedze a few minutes after the restart. Swallows also were troubled by their former player William Kunene who, however, could not be brave enough when he got loose from the defence, but with space to run a few more inside the box and picked a spot to beat the advancing ‘Nkomishi’, he opted to pass Muhle Dlamini but he put the ball slightly behind the forward, it was eventually cleared for a corner.

Kunene made another run on the right wing, cut in as he lost his marker but his final ball was headed away by Kingu Pemba.  Swallows had not troubled the Tinyosi keeper before the goal while Nkomishi was called into action as early as the fifth minute when Muhle pounced on a short clearance to try and curve the ball around Ginindza but he brilliantly blocked it back into play. Swallows had one stinging shot by Ngwenya well fisted back into play by the minnows’ goalkeeper who played some good counter attacks and defended in numbers which frustrated their rivals who were without striker Sandile Hlatjwako for options up front. Just before the start of the second half, ‘Nkomishi’ signalled to the referee that he wanted to go to the dugout seemingly for medical attention on his knee, but the whistleman heard none of it.

Delay the restart

The referee appeared to take it as a gimmick to delay the restart as Ngwenya had not yet returned to the field which made Swallows a 10-man team. ‘Nkomishi’ tried to force his way but turned back half way before he sat down on the turf a few minutes after the match had played without anyone contact with the ball or player and the referee cautioned him for feigning an injury. He got up and continued with the game while Ngwenya also returned five minutes later.

The goalkeeper soon made a good save, tipping out a low hard shot by Mpucuko ‘Smoothies’ Dlamini for from a few yards outside the 18-area box and then another in the 74th when Smoothies floated a set piece that looked bound for the far top corner, but the goalie showed some reflexes to reach the ball and punch it out for a corner. However, there was a moment of tension when Tsabedze clashed with Ndumiso ‘Sikhokho’ Shongwe, who had done well all day to keep him in check in the match over a foul between other players.

As the referee and other players tried to calm everyone down, the Tinyosi keeper had been on the ground even before the foul but to everyone’s surprise, the referee rushed to him which also saw ‘Nkomishi’ leaving his post to the incident to complain about his caution. Immediately the Tinyosi shot-stopper was treated and back on his feet, he received a yellow himself.

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