ASAKHULILE AMATHOLE!

My dearest readers ... Legend has it that a Buffalo is one of the most patient species on God’s green earth.
Buffaloes are herbivores, which means they eat only vegetation but according to National Geographic, they can be aggressive and are also protective of each other.

It is that element – AGGRESSION – which has come to define the army side named after the Syncerus caffer (African buffalo). It is this trait which separates the Dominic Kunene-led side from the rest, in particular the other security forces sides who no doubt are back on football’s top table much to the chagrin of many soccer followers.

Very few would have noticed the army side have been on a steadfast rise in the last seven years. You would have been forgiven for thinking their nickname was ‘BRIDESMAID FC’ as they came second best numerous times to a dominant Mbabane Swallows who won a waterfall of 11 trophies in four seasons.

Twice losing the league championships; controversially losing the 2017 Ingwenyama Cup final to the Swallows of Mbabane, ‘Amathole Ezinyathi’ did not back down but continued –like a turtle – to keep their heads down and worked feverishly. Their efforts have been rewarded with a fantastic double and E2.5 million in the kitty.

triumph

The Ingwenyama Cup triumph on March 17 in which they strung a comatose Mbabane Highlanders 4-1 in the final as if it were Toni Braxton’s Spanish Guitar, saw them take home a E1.3 million first prize cheque adding to the E100 000 they received on August 5, 2018 after losing 3-1 to Mbabane Swallows on penalties in the second semi-final of the EswatiniTelecom Charity Cup.

On Sunday, in an ultra-boring Cup final – the worst attended in the tournament’s 16-year-chequered history – they defended majestically as Leopard peppered their defence in the first half and then struck the winner at the right time – 13 minutes from time – to clinch the trophy they have won three times in a row and rewrote history books. Young Buffaloes have been solid, trailblazing, and swashbuckling at times this season. They have been unplayable. But on Sunday in the Cup final, they showed maturity in game management.

They seem to know that football is a game of conviction as well as artistry - you cannot always entertain your way to glory. The tightly contested yet ultra-boring Cup final was certainly going to be decided by one moment of magic and one special player. They do not come bigger than the mercurial Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Largely quiet in the game, Gamedze’s positional play is perfectly plausible. He sees a spot very few of his peers can see and then he strikes. His ability to move around the pitch almost unnoticed makes him a special player yet his every move should be accompanied by flares and sirens. The match clincher is a perfect example of his goal poacher’s instincts, which would shame a leopard – pun intended - that has not had a meal for a day. Picture the scene.

Young Buffaloes wins a throw-ball, the Leopard defence is badly positioned. Machawe Dlamini is man-marking the wasteful Phiwa Dlamini but defender Sifiso ‘Sushi’ Nkambule has lost Sandile Gamedze, who is wandering on the edge of the box unnoticed. Wing wizard, Fanelo ‘Order’ Mamba unleashes his trade-mark throw ball, which is flicked on by Wandile Maseko, then Gamedze moves swiftly like a shark drawn to blood, flying like a witch on a broomstick, he nods the ball home with such ferocity from afar it looks like he has hit it with his educated right foot. Even a desperate attempt to stop the ball with his right hand by defender Sikhumbuzo Magagula fails dismally as ‘Saviola’ wheels away in pure unbridled joy. Leopard players are stunned. Buffaloes players are in dreamland. The fans on the terraces in merriment. Even His Majesty King Mswati III watching from the Royal Box, belts a wry smile. Pure goal-poacher’s instincts!
sucker-punch

It was a sucker-punch. It was a beautiful glancing header enough to win a Cup final that lacked the zest and razzmatazz this tournament has been renowned for.  In the end, love or loathe them, it was a well deserved victory by the army side. Indeed, Eswatini football has got a new dictator. Move over sickle-as-a-parrot Mbabane Swallows. Eswatini football has a new enlightened despot. Buffaloes, the aggressive; Amathole Ezinyathi, the brave; Asakhulile Amathole. Whatever you call them, this much is beyond doubt – their place in the history of football is secure. Three successive times EswatiniBank Champions; Ingwenyama Cup reigning champions and who knows what else can they achieve as they chase Leopard again for the coveted league title with three games remaining. It is written in the sky – ASAKHULILE AMATHOLE EZINYATHI!

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