Times Of Swaziland: BUFFALOES LADIES CLAIM END GBV WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT

BUFFALOES LADIES CLAIM END GBV WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT
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Machawe Fakudze on 05/01/2025 06:04:00


MBABANE – Young Buffaloes claimed the Eswatini Women Football League End GBV
Women’s tournament played at Msunduza Sports Ground yesterday.
The army side cruised past a stubborn Nsingizini Hotspurs in the semi-finals to
book a place in the finals against Green Mamba, who beat rookies Sidwashini
United 4-0.
The game started on a high note as both teams searched for an early goal, but
they failed to find the net in the opening stages. It was Buffaloes, who nearly
broke the deadlock five minutes after the half-hour mark when Futhi Dlamini’s
well-timed header narrowly missed the target. In a counter-attack, the
Correctional Services outfit’s Phiwa Shongwe broke free, but the experienced
Sitsebe goalkeeper Gcinile Dlamini came out to clear the ball before Shongwe
could cause any damage.
Buffaloes’ Futhi was back again in search of the opener as her long-range shot
from outside the box was saved by Green Mamba’s goalkeeper Sikhuliso Dlamini
for a fruitless corner.
The Maxwell ‘King Dunga’ Zikalala-coached side’s skipper, Nonhle Simelane,
failed to give her side an opener inside the box, as she took a lame shot that
was easily collected by Dlamini. Just a minute before the break, the evergreen
Celiwe ‘Cece’ Nkambule’s long-range effort failed to trouble Green
Mamba’s goalkeeper between the sticks. ‘Cece’ eventually got her name on
the scoresheet 10 minutes into the second half, when she easily scored from a
clever pass delivered by the impressive Mazwi Dube. Three minutes later, Dube
unleashed a shot that was denied by the woodwork with Sikhulile well beaten.
When everyone thought that Buffaloes had won the game, Green Mamba equalised in
referee’s added time through Tibonile Dlamini. The match then went to
penalties. The girls slotted all the first five penalties for their teams. It
proceeded into sudden death, where Buffaloes won after Green Mamba’s Siphelele
Masuku’s penalty was saved by Gcinile.