‘WESLIANS’ BIBLE CUP KINGS AGAIN

(At Mavuso Sports Centre)
M. Wanderers..............(1)5
Johnson 37th, 49th, Mhlengi 51st, Juries 55th, Leon 62nd
M. Sundowns...............(0)0

MANZINI – Mahhala hha! This will be the song in the country’s hub as Manzini Wanderers defended their Bible Society Cup in style yesterday afternoon here.

They humiliated the hapless Manzini Sundowns by 5-0 during the final of the one-day tournament to be crowned champions for the second consecutive year at a packed-to-the-rafters Mavuso Sports Centre.

Brilliant displays were from guest players in Vovovo’s Leon Manyisa and Juries Gama, who will be joining the hub giants on loan from Royal Leopard in the coming season.

The finals were played by the two teams who had each won it once before yesterday’s games. Mbabane Highlanders and Moneni Pirates were the two teams to be added in this year’s adition and could not make it to the final.

Wanderers brushed aside Pirates 2-1 in the first semi-final while Sundowns beat Highlanders 5-3 on penalties.
It was an exciting final particularly in the first half where the losers frustrated the Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati-led outfit for nearly 40 minutes.
Former Matsapha United import Johnson Mensah brought redemption for the maroon and white ensemble as he found the opener seven minutes after the half-

hour mark. It was miscommunication in defence that cost the ‘Kappa boys’ as two defenders collided trying to defend a cross. The goalkeeper, Phila Mamba, also failed to hold on to the ball as it slipped from his hands to fall right at the feet of Mensah, who easily tapped in for an early ‘Christmas gift’.
Wanderers started dominating the game as they threw numbers in offence and Jose Machado was unlucky to have his shot saved by Sundowns’ Phila.

The speedy player scored a brace four minutes into the second half and the CR7-inspired celebration was befitting the importance of the goal in front of throngs of overjoyed Wanderers supporters. It was individual brilliance as Mensah dribbled past defenders from the left flank and superbly shot into the far lower corner.

Mhlengi Mngomezulu added to the woes of the worn out Sundowns team when he scored the third goal with a brilliant diving header, connecting a well crafted Sihle Mkhonta delivery to make it 3-0.
Wanderers were not done yet as guest players in Juries and Leon used the remaining minutes to take all the glory and win the hearts of the team’s loyalists.

fouled

Captain Phumlani Dlamini fouled Mhlengi towards the edge of the box and it cost Sundowns big. Juries stood up to the challenge and struck a delightful shot to stun the opposition goalkeeper.

Manyisa’s strike 62 minutes into the game sealed Wanderers’ victory to reaffirm the hub side as the champions of the Bible Society Cup champions.
The ball was straight from goalkeeper Ncedo Mamba, who distributed nicely to Mancoba ‘Spider’ Maseko where the latter placed a beautiful grass-cutting pass to Manyisa for him to release a killer shot into the roof of the goal post. Wanderers displayed great football in the presence of the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga and Tinkhundla Administration and Development’s David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphala, among other top government officials.

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