A 14 GOAL FEST!

Sports Editor
(At Somhlolo National Stadium)

LOBAMBA – The three minnows in the officially grand-opening of the 15th edition of the SwaziBank Cup must have felt like they had re-visited a crime scene or were made to confront a guilty secret.

Moyeni United, making their maiden appearance in the magical tournament, were butchered 5-1by Mbabane Highlanders while Milling Hotspurs were trashed 3-0 by Mbabane Swallows. National First Division side, Hlathikhulu Tycoons six match winning streak ended in tears when they were massacred 5-0 by defending champions Young Buffaloes at the same pitch and last 32 stage where they were flummoxed 4-0 by Mbabane Highlanders on the memorable day of 26 February, 2017.

Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala joined SwaziBank Board of Directors chairperson Sibongile Mdluli, Managing Director Zakhele Lukhele, High Court Judge Titus Mlangeni, National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) president, Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa in the Royal Box to be witnesses to a fourteen goal fest which marked two more goals than last year’s 12 goal glut during the official grand opening ceremony on 26 February. Fifty-four goals were scored in the opening last 32 stage of the tournament which reflects three goals less than the total of 57 goals netted at the same stage last year in the 14th edition of the annual tournament that has carved a niche for itself in the Swazi football landscape in all its 14 glorious years.

A not-so-impressive crowd of just a little 3 000 braved the distinctively chilly weather conditions punctuated by incessant rains in the last game of the triple header to pay homage to the official start of the magical tournament.
Highlanders, buoyed by their honey-throated started like they did last year when they butchered Hlathikhulu Tycoons in a 4-0 win, by mauling hapless Moyeni United 5-1. Then bitter arch-rivals, still reeling from the shock 3-1 CAF Champions League defeat to Lesotho’s Bantu FC lifted themselves up by easily trashing Milling Hotspurs 3-0 to bring back the smiles in the faces of their boisterous supporters.

With half of the fans in attendance resorting to leaving the stadium in droves as the heavens opened up, reigning champions, Young Buffaloes began the defence of their crown by trashing Hlathikhulu Tycoons 5-0 without even engaging a second gear.
As a tournament renowned for its glut of goals, the SwaziBank Cup lived up to its billing with a total of 54 goals scored in the opening last 32 stage. Uyayifuna Na!

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