MAJESTIC, INVINCIBLE ‘BIRDS’ CHAMPS AGAIN

LOBAMBA – Who will ever beat them in this cup?

Mbabane Swallows put Royal Leopard’s nose out of the joint with a hard-earned 2-1 extra time victory to lift the Ingwenyama Cup for the third consecutive season. This team has never lost a game in this cup, since its inception in 2015-16 season and yesterday despite conceding for the first time in the final, they still showed great character to come from behind to nail it home. And boy, the supporters’ rendition of their now victory song ‘Myekeleni Aphumule’ was a sight to behold. The cherry on top was that everything pertaining to the tense-as-chess-match cup final was captured by both SuperSport Channel and our own Swazi TV. And of course, watched by over 12 000 plus spectators, including His Majesty King Mswati III who is the patron of the tournament.

The stage was psychologically absorbing and draining in equal measure to both sets of players, resulting in what was a physically engaging affair that produced 41 fouls in total, with the capital city giants the more aggressive with 22.
The seventh straight defeat against the same team would leave the police side asking the question; what else do they need to do to beat the Swallows of Mbabane? The mood was like everyone in the club felt like carrying the can for the defeat. After taking a five-minute lead through defender Machawe Dlamini, whose glancing header at five yards from a weighted Zweli ‘Mlilo’ Nxumalo looked like the perfect way to end the jinx. Njabulo D4D Ndlovu has instinctively pushed Mxolisi ‘General’ Lukhele from behind at the edge of the 18 area. Though the positioning of the set piece looked awkward, but when you have ‘Mlilo’ on your side, you can vouch for a breath-taking delivery.

What did Swallows do afterwards? They kept their cool, worked their way back to the game, buy playing on the front foot. Felix Badenhorst, Sandile Hlatshwako, Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze and the overlapping Sifiso Mabila seized the responsibility. Their task was made light weight by Leopard’s decision to subconsciously begin to defend their lead early in the game. Pressing the opponents would have worked to their favour to exert the anxiety after coming conceding early. They were pressed against the wall, but held on for the dear life until the recess. A minute from the resumption, Leopard appeared to have extended their lead through Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini who finished off a nicely worked move inside the box. He was adjudged to have strayed offside by second assistant Gcina Mamba. However, television replays showed that the goal should have been given.

The decision was to come back and haunt Leopard who conceded eight minutes later. Felix combined with Mabila. The former then picked an unmarked Tony Tsabedze at 25 yards. He dummied Sifiso ‘Sushi’ Nkambule out of his way before rattling the net with a stunning strike that stretched a diving Phephisani to the limit.

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