Times Of Swaziland: MALANTI REKINDLE SURVIVAL HOPES

MALANTI REKINDLE SURVIVAL HOPES
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BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO on 15/07/2021 08:31:00


PIGG’S PEAK – Malanti Chiefs bounced back to winning ways yesterday in their
quest to survive relegation in the MTN Premier League.
Goals from Zweli Fakudze and Felisberto Bocuane were enough to hand them the
three points that saw them moving up from the basement to second from bottom of
the log. They now have 18 points, same as Denver Sundowns but below due to their
inferior goal difference. Mhlume Peacemakers who beat Malanti Chiefs 2-1 last
Sunday are now back at the rock bottom of the log table with 16 points and have
played more games. It was Tambuti that started the game on a high, giving
Malanti Chiefs a tough time in the opening minutes. Their first scoring chance
came 10 minutes into the game when a free kick from 25 yards was saved by Colani
Mngometulu, who returned after he missed the past two games.
Rebound
Malanti’s Captain Sifiso Makhubu could not believe it when he failed to finish
off from the rebound after goalkeeper Mlungisi Nxumalo had parried a shot from
Thokozani Khanyile. Malanti’s Zweli Fakudze and Myalo Gwebu were all guilty as
they failed to score when chances came their way, with hard working Sifiso
Mazibuko delivering crosses time and again. With two minutes remaining before
the break, Mazibuko’s cross was met by Zweli Fakudze, who controlled and drove
a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Mlungisi Nxumalo to take the lead. In the
second half, the host team started with confidence as Tambuti’s Siboniso Shiba
cleared the ball from the line after a scramble in the 18-area. In the last 20
minutes of the game, Malanti were put under pressure and Tambuti attacked from
all angles but they could not find the back of the net. Malanti’s defenders
were forced to work under pressure protecting the lone goal.
Danger
Sensing danger, Malanti’s coaches Ray Dlamini and Christopher Tembo brought in
Mozambican striker Felisberto Bocuane who netted against the run of play in
added time, scoring his eighth goal of the season. The win brought a huge smile
to Malanti’s technical bench as they will be hoping to build on from this
match when they face Denver Sundowns in a thrilling battle of relegation at
KaLanga Technical Centre next Wednesday with kick off at 11am.