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G. MAMBA ‘BITE’ WANDERERS

26/02/2023 08:52:00 Sanele Jele

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MBABANE – It never rains but pours for hub giants, Manzini Wanderers as they were yesterday condemned to a damning 11th defeat of the season.

It only means more relegation worries for the fallen hub giants, who are swimming in a pool of financial challenges, due to not having any directors financially supporting the team; salaries have gone unpaid for about six months now. However, the maroon and white outfit who are flirting with relegation as they are one place and one point above the danger zone at the bottom part of the standings. It was leaders Green Mamba who completed a double over LiWeseli, as Wanderers are also fondly known, when they edged them with a solitary goal. It was 3-1 in the first round.

Given yesterday’s scoreline, perhaps some supporters of the club will feel they lack a bit of luck, as in the games they lost recently they would perform but lose. Attacking midfielder Khethokuhle Mkhontfo was the difference in the match, with his 20th minute strike, taking his team four points clear of second-placed Young Buffaloes, who face rookies Nsingizini Hotspurs this afternoon. The match is billed for Nsukuwansuku Stadium in Mhlume at 3pm. This was Green Mamba’s seventh consecutive win since the shock 2-1 defeat to Denver Sundowns on December 10, last year.
Wanderers on the other hand have not had a win in their last three matches and were fresh from a 3-1 baptism of fire by also relegation-troubled Tambuti FC, while it was Manzini Sea Birds who beat them 1-0 in the preceeding game.

Missed

Coming to the game, despite ending with the wooden side of the spoon, the home team fairly played well and missed chances, which they could have easily converted to force a draw. The Ernest Mavuso-led Green Mamba and log leaders were not playing their normal carpet football, owing to the bumpy surface of this pitch. This turned out to be a game of two halves, with the visiting side dominating the first half while Wanderers controlled proceedings in the last half. The real chance that counted for the log leaders came just 10 minutes before the half-hour mark. It was the workaholic Njabulo Magagula who delivered a well-timed cross which Mkhontfo calmly headed past Sitali Nyambe from close range.

The home side could have levelled matters in the half-hour mark but Amos Layode missed the target by inches after a spilled ball by Green Mamba goalkeeper Xolani Gama. In the second half the hosts were firing from all cylinders and as a result forced the away side to defend with all they had. A chance went begging after Wanderers’ William Kunene rounded off defender Mthunzi ‘Chippa’ Motsa, but saw his shot go just wide in the hour mark.
The home side was close to scoring 10 minutes from full time but a Njabulo ‘Koko’ Gama’s close range strike was saved by the Green Mamba goalkeeper.

In form Mxolisi Mkhonto was close to extending the lead, but Nyambe pulled a beautiful save from a free kick at the edge of the box five minutes before full-time. The Weslians had themselves to blame after Sibonginkhosi ‘Gudas’ Dlamini took a poor shot just three yards from the goal and saw it easily saved by Gama two minutes before referee Thulani Sibandze blew the final whistle.