BULLY ARMY FOUR-CE

Sports Editor

(At Somhlolo National Stadium)

LOBAMBA – With panache, passion and obduracy, vintage Young Buffaloes reached the Ingwenyama Cup Promised Land by pulverising a listless Mbabane Highlanders 4-1 in astonishing fashion before a capacity crowd here yesterday.

His Majesty King Mswati III, the patron of the richly sponsored tournament, joined by his guest, former president of South Africa Jacob Zuma and over 15 000 fans worshipping on the altar of football, watched in awe as ‘Amathole Ezinyathi’ ran riot in one of the most one-sided Cup finals in history to clinch the princely E1.3 million first prize cheque.

Taking off like a stolen VW GTi 7R, Buffaloes surged forward in an eye-watering transition play which bamboozled Highlanders’ leaky-as-sieve defence, which fell apart like the biblical walls of Jericho at the slightest pressure, all day afternoon. It was a matter of how many goals, not if, the army side would score as Highlanders were exposed tactically, technically and otherwise by a super-fit Buffaloes side which outfoxed, outsmarted and out-thought the Saul Chaminuke-coached side far more than the scoreline suggests.

Even after losing striker Ndoda Mthethwa, who netted the opening goal three minutes after His Majesty King Mswati III had taken his seat next to ‘Msholozi’ in the 18th minute, Buffaloes were not overawed by Highlanders fortuitous equalising penalty converted by Thabiso Mokenkoane 10 minutes before half-time.

unbeaten

When Buffaloes – unbeaten in 19 successive games in all domestic games since they lost 2-1 to Green Mamba in a league encounter on November 3 - took the lead four minutes after the hour mark through ‘man of the match’ Mpendulo ‘Mbetha’ Dlamini, the earlier hyperbole celebrations at Highlanders grandstand which had greeted the equalising goal were replaced by a deathly silence.

Highlanders were schizophrenic, Buffaloes were rampant. Dominic Kunene’s energetic battalions cash-in-transit heist-like swift attacking play peppered Highlanders defence which had more holes than Swiss cheese, it came as no surprise when gangly striker Phiwa Dlamini netted the third goal, a stupendous shot 10 minutes before time. 

The die was cast. Chamunike’s decision to leave midfielder, Menzi Sithole on the bench, insistence in keeping an off-form Vusumuzi Zungu on the pitch and tactical malnourishment left Highlanders softer than a baby’s bottom. Strong contender for the ‘Player of the Series’, the twinkled-toed Sandile Gamedze, crowned his masterly display by hammering the final nail on Highlanders coffin with a deft finish three minutes into referee Thembinkosi Dlamini’s optional time to take his tally to five goals, walking away with the E10 000 top goalscorer award prize.

Highlanders were dumped into the deepest depths of despair like it happened on April Fool’s Day in 2012 - in their last Cup final appearance - when Green Mamba butchered ‘Inkunzemnyama’ 3-1 in the EswatiniBank Cup final.

It must have felt like re-visiting a crime scene for the hordes of Highlanders fans as the eight-year wait for a trophy continues unabated while celebrations that were louder than a 21-gun salute at Phocweni army barracks enveloped the Buffaloes camp with army commander, Sobantu Dlamini in sheer unbridled joy.

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