STEELS ONE ‘BASKET’ FROM E17 000 PRIZE

MBABANE – “It’s not how you start, but it’s how you finish.”

These were comments by Manzini Steels player coach Andile Thwala, after seeing his side cruise to an 83-66 victory against Mbabane Jazz on Saturday at Mavuso Sports Emporium. The permutations are that if Steels win the second match of the final play-off, they will be crowned champions of the Swaziland National Men Elite League. For Jazz to stand a chance of being champions, they would have to win the second game, to force the tie to the third set, otherwise they would have to forget about the E17 000 grand prize, but take home the E10 000 runners-up package. This method will apply in the National Women League which is being contested for by Phoenix Alumi and Super Ladies. Phoenix are currently a step ahead after their 60-39 win in the first set of the play-off final. And they are on course for the E13 500 first prize. Steels started the game on a low note, as they trailed for the first three quarters. In the first set they were 16-10 down, second quarter they were still trailing 34-26 and on the third quarter, Jazz were still in front with the scoreboard reading 55-53. 

Steels turned the tables in the deciding quarter and they went on to win the game 83-66. So we ask player coach Andile Thwala the secret to coming from behind, to eventually win the tightly contested game.“Well at first we adopted their style of play, they were using zone defending and they made it difficult to score. In the third and last quarter we decided to go for a new strategy, we used man to man defending and we started attacking in droves and their defence started cracking,” Thwala said. “It is not how one starts but its how you finish. We started off badly but we picked up the pieces and eventually won the game. However, we are not celebrating yet, as we have to go to game two next weekend. We can celebrate after we win game two of the play-off,” he said. Thwala, who is also Super Ladies coach, said they have not given up despite losing 39-60 to Phoenix Alumi. “Look, I respect Phoenix, they have good players and on the other hand we do not have depth, if one player gets injured for us, we start faltering. However, that should not be an excuse as we still have a chance to turn things around in game two,” he said.

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