Times Of Swaziland: BULLDOZER!

BULLDOZER!
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Lwazi Dlamini on 11/04/2022 08:26:00


SITEKI – Long-time MTN league table toppers, Mbabane Highlanders held on
tenaciously to the pole position after beating Denver Sundowns 2-0 in a
rain-drenched league clash here yesterday.
Over 200 Highlanders supporters braved the bitterly cold weather conditions and
incessant rain to see the ‘Black Bull’ snatch their 14th win of the season
to keep alive the dream of ending the 21-year wait for the ‘Holy Grail’ of
Eswatini football. Frustrated by standing in the rain, some fans tore the fence
next to the main gate as they made their way to the smaller than a dog’s
kennel VIP area at this lamentable small venue.
flummoxed
Highlanders continue to be on pole position with 46 points, just a point ahead
of defending champions Royal Leopard, who flummoxed minnows Rangers 3-0 at the
same time at the King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium. The police side also have a
game in hand against Moneni Pirates. The epic chase for the league title has
turned into a five-horse race with surprise package, Tambankulu Callies, who
beat Green Mamba 3-1 on Saturday, joining Highlanders, Leopard, Young Buffaloes
and Mbabane Swallows, in what is turning out to be one of the fierce title races
in years. With Highlanders facing trail-blazing Buffaloes and Royal Leopard
crossing path with Mbabane Swallows in the next fixtures, soccer fans are in for
a treat. Highlanders fans had to wait for at least 44 minutes here before seeing
their side take the lead.
Striker Philane Mkhontfo worked his way on the left flank, side-stepping
Sundowns defender, Sibusiso Manana before delivering an inch-perfect cross which
was beautifully tapped into the net by the on-rushing captain, Sabelo
‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa for his 17th goal of the season. The Sihlangu forward is
now two goals shy from hitting the 19 goals he netted in his first season for
the ‘Black and white’ ensemble having joined on October 20, 2020.
Highlanders South African import Kenneth Moloto should have made it 2-0 at the
stroke of half-time when he fired woefully wide a well weighted Mkhontfo cross
from the right flank. He made up for the woeful miss five minutes into the
second half when he scored the second goal of the day and it was a beautiful
team goal, straight from a training session drill.
skilfully
Right full back Peter Dlamini fed the ball to the on-rushing Tony ‘Ben 10’
Muchacha on the right flank and his low cross was skilfully skipped by
‘Sikhali, leaving the Sundowns defence dazed, thus allowing Moloto to finish
sublimely for his eighth goal of the campaign. ‘Sikhali’ should have done
better after a Muchacha tantalizing cross saw him head the ball as if it were
pawpaw and wide of goal eight minutes after the hour-mark. Sundowns never gave
up, making some dangerous in-roads into Highlanders danger zone and goalkeeper
Khanyakwezwe Shabalala had to pull off a daring save to deny Mike Dombo from
close range in the 70th minute. Highlanders held onto the 2-0 lead to snatch
their 14th win in 20 games and kept their league title hopes very much alive
with ten games remaining.