MBABANE – Police were immediately called into action following the final whistle of the thrilling Manzini Wanderers and Mbabane Highlanders MTN Premier League clash on Sunday. The match, played at Mavuso Sports Centre, ended in a 2-2 draw, with Highlanders twice coming from behind to secure a point against the ‘Weslians’.
However, drama unfolded after the game when fans in the Wanderers grandstand started expressing their intense displeasure as the match officials headed towards the tunnels. Police officers swiftly intervened as fans allegedly used gestures and shouted verbatim to express dissatisfaction with the referees’ handling of the game. The referee quartet – Referee Wandile Mamba, Assistants Celumusa Phiri and Mfanasibili Ndzinisa and Fourth Official Thokozani Gamedze – were forced to retreat, taking shelter by the side of the pitch while they waited for their path to the changing rooms to be cleared.
While the officials waited, an aggrieved Highlanders club official charged at them twice. His fury reportedly stemmed from a failure to award a foul in the final seconds of the game, after right-back Ndumiso Dlamini was tackled in the box while launching an attack. The official argued that the severity of the incident, which left Dlamini with an ankle injury, clearly warranted a penalty. Although initially calmed down with a warning that his behaviour could attract sanctions for the ‘Black Bull’, the storm did not pass.
When the match officials eventually made their move towards the dressing rooms, officers from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) were forced to intervene once more as the official pounced on the referees. A brief jostle ensued as police pushed the man away while he appeared desperate to demand an explanation for the decision. The injured player received medical attention from the club team and paramedics before being rushed to hospital. Dlamini is currently on the verge of joining the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), having recently passed the first phase of their recruitment.
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Ndumiso Dlamini, was tackled in the box while launching an attack, which resulted in a foul that was not flagged by the referee, sparking fury from the ‘Bull’ supporters. (Pic: Melusi Mkhabela