Football

(At KaLanga Technical Centre)

Sisonkhe........................(0)1

Msiwi 53^rd

Young Buffaloes ..........(2)5

Lizwe 29^th, Saviola 37^th, Magwegwe 65^th, Owa 77^th, 79^th

SITEKI – Young Buffaloes emphatically returned to winning ways yesterday, hammering minnows Sisonkhe 5-1 in a one-sided MTN Premier League clash.

The dominant performance in their week five fixture at the KaLanga Technical Centre outside Siteki saw Owa ‘Logwaja’ Matsebula steal the show with a brilliant second-half brace, thrilling a sizeable crowd.

The victory keeps the pressure on at the top of the table as the race for the E120 000 first-round carrot heats up with every game.

Dominic Kunene’s Buffaloes side asserted their authority early on. In the 10^th minute, defensive midfielder Innocent ‘Makhehleni’ Dlamini rattled the woodwork with a powerful strike, before striker Derrick Sifundza spurned a close-range chance inside the opening 20 minutes.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 29^th minute when Lizwe Zwane tucked the ball away, capitalising on an assist from Sifundza. Sisonkhe attempted an immediate response, with Celani Dlamini hitting above the post four minutes later after receiving the ball from Menzi Dludlu. Their forward, Mukelo ‘Msiwi’ Nhlabatsi, also threatened the Buffaloes’ goal 10 minutes before the break.

However, the visitors doubled their lead two minutes later. The experienced marksman Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze showcased his predatory instincts, evading Lungelo Maziya’s attempted save to ensure his shot kissed the net. Sisonkhe’s Kwanele Dlamini hit the woodwork in the 42^nd minute, but ‘Amathole Ezinyathi’ were comfortably leading 2-0 when referee Wandile Mamba signalled for half-time.

Sisonkhe, to their credit, pulled one goal back eight minutes into the second half. ‘Msiwi’ Nhlabatsi netted for the hosts, leaving Buffaloes shot-stopper Mlungisi ‘Letticia’ Nxumalo utterly dejected.

Any hope of a comeback was swiftly extinguished. Substitute Sandile ‘Magwegwe’ Mbingo applied the ‘toe to the nail’ in stunning fashion, firing a superb stunner from the edge of the box five minutes after the hour mark.

It truly began to rain goals when Buffaloes’ pacey winger Matsebula emphatically added his name to the scoring charts in the 77^th minute. Defender Mpendulo Mabaso had desperately tried, but failed, to clear the shot with the Sisonkhe goalkeeper off position.

The last nail in the coffin was hit just two minutes later, as Matsebula bagged his first brace of the season, worsening Sisonkhe’s woes. Despite a few late counterattacks by Mbongiseni Mamba’s side, the Buffaloes defence held tight.

The army side celebrated a comprehensive 5-1 victory when the final whistle blew, a result that sends a clear statement about their intention to claim their rightful place. Winless and pointless Sisonkhe, meanwhile, will need to rally quickly as they look to redeem themselves against Mbabane Highlanders in their next fixture.

Sisonkhe defender Mxolisi Bhembe tries to snatch the ball from sprinting Buffaloes brace hero Owa ‘Logwaja’ Matsebula during their 1-5 defeat to the former in an MTN Premier League clash played at KaLanga Technical Centre yesterday. (Pic: Ntombikayise Gwebu)