‘BIRDS’ SWEETEST VICTOR-Y

LOBAMBA -– Mbabane Swallows fans celebrate the 2-1 victory over Royal Leopard yesterday during their MTN Premier League game at Somhlolo National Stadium. Swallows were playing their first game after the demise of their Chairman Victor Gamedze. (Pic: Nto

Sports Editor

LOBAMBA – Exactly two weeks after being brutally gunned down, the fighting spirit of dearly departed Mbabane Swallows club boss, Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze came alive in his team – literally and figuratively speaking here yesterday.

Honey-throated Swallows fans sang joyously, belting their famous hymn, ‘Myekeleni Aphumule’ in honour of their late chairman as celebrations greeted referee, Thembinkosi Dlamini’s three minutes optional time winner by two-goal hero, Sandile Hlatshwako in extra-ordinary circumstances before over 5 000 during yesterday’s Triple header at the country’s soccer Mecca.

Not since the memorable Saturday afternoon of April 15, 2017, when Swallows overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Congo Brazzaville’s AC Leopard 4-2 has the iconic Somhlolo National Stadium seen such wild scenes of celebrations, which continued throughout the night right up to this morning in certain parts of the capital city’s watering holes.

Watching from the pearly gates of Heaven, the late club boss, Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze must have belted a Colgate smile in appreciation and probably even shed copious tears of joy like he did when his beloved Swallows staged one of the greatest comebacks in African football on that unforgettable Saturday afternoon of April 15, 2017.

Yesterday’s victory, courtesy of two goals by striker Sandile Hlatshwako, who cancelled out a Leopard goal by striker, Barry Steenkamp was as sweet as a nectarine. Needless to say, it was ‘Mkhonto Ka-Shaka’ sixth win in a row over the police side since the last league 3-1 defeat on May 15, 2016 to the self-same ‘Ingwe Mabalabala, whose players were left spread-eagled on the pitch as if shot by a sniper at the sound of the final whistle.

 It was surreal. It was heart-warming. It melted the coldest of hearts.  It was worth its weight in gold too as the ‘Beautiful Birds’ not only paid homage to their dearly departed boss but they returned to their celestial home – on the pinnacle of the MTN log standings, three points ahead of nearest challengers, Young Buffaloes. It also meant the Swallows of Mbabane stretched the history-defining league unbeaten run to 41 – and further marked their 24-match unbeaten run in all competitions in the 2017/18 season.

It could have easily gone pear-shaped after Leopard, on the back foot for the entire first half, took the lead via the talismanic Barry Steenkamp but Hlatshwako equalised. Then Steenkamp’s curling shot hit the post in the dying stages of the game.

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