Times Of Swaziland: LEOPARD END NSINGIZINI 2-YR JINX

LEOPARD END NSINGIZINI 2-YR JINX
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Ashmond Nzima on 16/09/2024 08:45:00


R. Leopard ..................(1)1
Junior
Nsingizini ....................(0)0
MANZINI – Eight-time MTN Premier League champions Royal Leopard are
celebrating a dream start at the expense of hoodoo side Nsingizini Hotspurs.
An unanswered lone strike veteran and enterprising Leopard midfielder Junior
Magagula proved decisive in the tightly-contested MTN Premier League clash
played before a roaring crowd of over 3 500 at Mavuso Sports Centre, yesterday.
It was the sweetest of victories for the police side, after ending with the
wooden part of the spoon in recent meetings with the ambitious Shiselweni-based
outfit.
victories
The latter had completed a season double with 3-1 and 1-0 victories in the
previous campaign. In all four league meetings on the big stage, Leopard had
only managed to grab in this fixture. They have now played each other five
times, with Nsingizini drawing first blood back on November 16, 2022. For
Nsingizini, it was a setback after doing enough to at least grab a point.
However, they were far from convincing after a jittery start, only to wake up
from their slumber late in the game. After Sifiso Matse squandered a glorious
opportunity from close range in the eighth minute, Magagula stepped up two
minutes later to find the breakthrough. After he was set up with an audacious
cross by Mlamuli Msibi, the seasoned midfielder fired the ball past a forest of
legs to beat goalkeeper Felizwe Vilakati with a low shot from close range.
While chances were few and far between during the opening period, there was
enough time for drama before Referee Celumusa Siphepho, who was found wanting,
signalled for the breather. Goalkeeper Vilakati appeared to have floored the
goalscorer in the box but the referee ignored calls for a spot kick. The blue
and white outfit took the narrow lead to the break.
On resumption of play, Nsingizini still played without a pattern until the
introduction of the adventurous pair of Ayanda Mayeyana and Mavela Dlamini.
compact
For Leopard, it was all about being compact in midfield, while also keeping the
opposition on their toes. As result, the experience of Mzwandile Mabelesa and
Skipper Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini was roped in late in the game. In the last 10
minutes of the game, the pendulum swung Nsingizini’s way, but the hosts stood
their ground to set the tone for fruitful campaign.