‘BIRDS’ SWALLOWED

LOBAMBA – Exuding determination and commitment from every pore, ruthless Young Buffaloes put Mbabane Swallows to the sword in emphatic fashion in a 3-1 annihilation that sent the army side to the summit of the MTN log standings here yesterday.

As the icing on top of the cake goes, this was the sweetest imaginable for the army side who not only leapfrogged Swallows to  the log pole position – one point ahead and a game in hand - but invariably ended a five-year winless streak against the Swallows of Mbabane. Prior to yesterday’s resounding win, which sent a clear statement of intent to wrestle the league crown away from inconsistent Green Mamba, Buffaloes had not beaten Swallows in nine previous outings, dating back to the first round of the 2014/15 season.

‘Amathole Ezinyathi’ won 1-0 on that memorable Sunday afternoon of November 29, 2014 but yesterday’s victory, needless to say well deserved, was as sweet as a nectarine. The score-line could have easily reached double figures as Swallows having seen defender, Kingu Pemba sent off 11 minutes from time, managed to keep the score-line at 3-1 only through the numerous brave saves by Sihlangu’s first choice keeper, Sandanezwe Mathabela.

Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, seated alongside Eswatini Football Association (EFA) president Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa in the Royal Box watched Buffaloes hand the red and white outfit the kind of public spanking naughty schoolboys were subjected to in the olden days, now completely outlawed. In the true context of the animal kingdom, it was the kind of cruelty that would have called for the intervention of the Animal Welfare Society. Chief tormentor and man of the match Wandile ‘Skosh’ Shabangu was sleek and suave; Mpendulo ‘Mpetha’ Dlamini in midfield was defiance and indefatigable personified while second half substitute Phiwa Dlamini ran Swallows stiff-as-ironing-board defence rugged before scoring the second goal, which knocked the winds off the Birds’ sails.

A sweetly-struck Ali Matse free kick nine minutes from time ensured the army side ended a nine match winless streak against Swallows with a proper plonking that now leaves Dominic Kunene’s charges salivating at the prospect of the E350 000 first round ‘carrot’ with four games before the curtain falls down on an entertaining first half of the season. 

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