BULL GORE PEACEMAKERS

SITEKI – Bullish scoreline!

That is how one can best describe Mbabane Highlanders 5-0 rout of relegation-troubled basement side, Mhlume Peacemakers yesterday in the MTN Premier League. It was dazzling striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa who also scored his 17th goal of the season and provided two assists to shove Mhlume Peacemakers deep into the relegation quagmire. ‘Sikhali’s namesake Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze netted a brace while other scorers were wingers Philani Mkhontfo and Siboniso ‘Mane’ Lukhele to take the final score to 5-0. While the win lifted the ‘Black Bull’ into the top four after Manzini Wanderers lost 0-1 to Manzini Sea Birds, Peacemakers’ 17th defeat this season leaves them staring relegation in the face but they still can survive with two games remaining as the gap is very narrow down the table.

Peacemakers needed to win or draw here but now must fight to do so in the last two games as the relegation battle looks set to go down to the wire. They now have Milling Hot Spurs who won against another threatened side, Malanti Chiefs and then Green Mamba who will be very tough opponents for them. They should pray Tambankulu Callies, who held Young Buffaloes to a goalless draw, Malanti Chiefs and Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows lose their remaining two games to be safe mathematically while they win theirs to survive. Against Highlanders, it was one-sided affair with the gulp in class playing itself out with ‘Sikhali’ leading his teammates. He showed a lot of unselfishness as in some of the assists he could have simply scored but opted to pass his teammates.

floodgates

In the opening exchange, ‘Sikhali’s glancing header from a Kenneth Moloto’s cross inside the opening 15 minutes, opened the floodgates for Highlanders. Peacemakers could have restored parity but Serry Issa’s volley hit the side net in the half-hour mark. ‘Sawa’ made it 2-0 for the hosts after he let lose a volley from the edge of the box with two minutes before half time. Sikhali provided an assist to Siboniso ‘Mane’ Lukhele, who finished from close range to make it 3-0 from the left flank on referee’s Mbongeni Myeni’s two minutes added time. ‘Sawa’ completed his brace in the 67th after he was set up by Philane Mkhontfo on the left flank. His powerful shot from the right flank was too much to handle for the goalkeeper Siyabonga Magagula. Mkhontfo also registered his name on the scorer’s chart after finishing off a ‘Sikhali’ defence splitting pass two minutes from time. Highlanders had also got a slashing from their boss Chief Ally Kgomongwe who is said to have called them during camp to motivate them as he mandated a top four finish.

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