Times Of Swaziland: MALANTI CHIEFS STORM INTO U-20 SWAZIBANK CUP FINAL

MALANTI CHIEFS STORM INTO U-20 SWAZIBANK CUP FINAL
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BY NSINDISO TSABEDZE on 23/03/2014 09:29:00


LOBAMBA – Siboniso Mncina’s rasping shot 10 minutes from time was all a
dominant Malanti Chiefs Under-20 team needed to boot out favourites Manzini
Wanderers and storm into their first SwaziBank Cup final.
The free-flowing semi-final clash was played at the Somhlolo National Stadium in
front of about 500 appreciative soccer lovers with a majority praying with the
‘Weslians’. Mncina struck when gold and black outfit had changed the game on
its head to dominate proceedings for longer spells of the last half after a
barren opening 45 minutes.
Wanderers were left to reflect on what could have been, as they failed to take
their chances. Zenzile Mpofu’s exciting youngsters rued missed chances,
especially after dominating the first half with some sleek moves engineered by
the stylish Mfanuzile Mdluli. A younger brother to the late former Wanderers
crowd darling, Wandile ‘Bin Laden’, the younger Mdluli captivated the crowd
with his dribbling skills and ball wizardry.
It was, however, not enough to unlock a stubborn Malanti Chiefs defence well
marshalled by Siyabonga Mncube and Boxer Mnisi.
Wanderers thought they had found the net when a corner kick well taken by Mdluli
on the right flank was powered goal-wards by Wanderers sweeper Menzi Thusi. The
Malanti defence seemed to clear the ball after it had already crossed the goal
line, The referee and his assistant thought otherwise.
The teams went to the breather locked in the barren stalemate and in the second
half, Malanti seized the game’s control.