BULLDOZER!

SITEKI – Long-time MTN league table toppers, Mbabane Highlanders held on tenaciously to the pole position after beating Denver Sundowns 2-0 in a rain-drenched league clash here yesterday.

Over 200 Highlanders supporters braved the bitterly cold weather conditions and incessant rain to see the ‘Black Bull’ snatch their 14th win of the season to keep alive the dream of ending the 21-year wait for the ‘Holy Grail’ of Eswatini football. Frustrated by standing in the rain, some fans tore the fence next to the main gate as they made their way to the smaller than a dog’s kennel VIP area at this lamentable small venue.

flummoxed

Highlanders continue to be on pole position with 46 points, just a point ahead of defending champions Royal Leopard, who flummoxed minnows Rangers 3-0 at the same time at the King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium. The police side also have a game in hand against Moneni Pirates. The epic chase for the league title has turned into a five-horse race with surprise package, Tambankulu Callies, who beat Green Mamba 3-1 on Saturday, joining Highlanders, Leopard, Young Buffaloes and Mbabane Swallows, in what is turning out to be one of the fierce title races in years. With Highlanders facing trail-blazing Buffaloes and Royal Leopard crossing path with Mbabane Swallows in the next fixtures, soccer fans are in for a treat. Highlanders fans had to wait for at least 44 minutes here before seeing their side take the lead.

Striker Philane Mkhontfo worked his way on the left flank, side-stepping Sundowns defender, Sibusiso Manana before delivering an inch-perfect cross which was beautifully tapped into the net by the on-rushing captain, Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa for his 17th goal of the season. The Sihlangu forward is now two goals shy from hitting the 19 goals he netted in his first season for the ‘Black and white’ ensemble having joined on October 20, 2020. Highlanders South African import Kenneth Moloto should have made it 2-0 at the stroke of half-time when he fired woefully wide a well weighted Mkhontfo cross from the right flank. He made up for the woeful miss five minutes into the second half when he scored the second goal of the day and it was a beautiful team goal, straight from a training session drill.

skilfully

Right full back Peter Dlamini fed the ball to the on-rushing Tony ‘Ben 10’ Muchacha on the right flank and his low cross was skilfully skipped by ‘Sikhali, leaving the Sundowns defence dazed, thus allowing Moloto to finish sublimely for his eighth goal of the campaign. ‘Sikhali’ should have done better after a Muchacha tantalizing cross saw him head the ball as if it were pawpaw and wide of goal eight minutes after the hour-mark. Sundowns never gave up, making some dangerous in-roads into Highlanders danger zone and goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala had to pull off a daring save to deny Mike Dombo from close range in the 70th minute. Highlanders held onto the 2-0 lead to snatch their 14th win in 20 games and kept their league title hopes very much alive with ten games remaining.

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