Times Of Swaziland: LEAGUE’S TOP BRASS!

LEAGUE’S TOP BRASS!
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BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO on 21/06/2021 08:40:00


MANZINI – Lucky!
Royal Leopard were lucky to take home the maximum points against Moneni Pirates
in the MTN Premier League when they were handed a controversial penalty in
additional time by referee Celumusa Siphepho. Mathokoza Thwala made no mistake
from the spot- kick. The win saw the police ensemble maintaining the six points
lead at the top of the MTN Premier League from defending champions Young
Buffaloes, who are second with 49 points after their 3-0 win over Pigg’s Peak
Black Swallows yesterday. The penalty handed by the referee for a foul on
Leopard’s Sifiso Matse by Meshack Lushaba left Pirates’ bench hopping mad.
explanation
The referee with his assistants had to wait for about five minutes inside the
field of play after the game as some Pirates officials were waiting at the
tunnels for an explanation from the referees on why they awarded the spot-kick.
It was Royal Leopard’s 17th win after 21 games. Leopard is fresh from a 5-2
win over Milling Hot spurs on Wednesday at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium.
Pirates, who fought bravely throughout the game, are still not safe from the axe
as they are fifth from the bottom with 19 points. The game started with the
police side dominating and clear chances fell on their way but they failed to
utilise them. Leopard forward Bonginkhosi ‘Manyovu’ Dlamini could have given
the police side the lead 15 minutes in when his shot went straight to the arms
of the goalkeeper, Bhekisisa Dlamini.
troubling
In the half hour mark, Dlamini was back against troubling the Pirates defence
but his well taken shot was bravely saved by Pirates goalkeeper Bhekisisa. It
was chance after chance for Leopard towards the closing stage of the first half
but their forwards Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini, Lungelo Tsabedze and Bonginkhosi
‘Manyovu’ Dlamini failed to convert. In the second half, Pirates were a
better side. Despite approaching the game in a defensive manner under coach
Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini, they squandered some chances that came their way
through counter-attacks.  They created more scoring chances than their opponents
but failed to convert and thanks to the brilliance of Leopard returnee
goalkeeper Phephisani Msibi.