CALLIES IN BUFFS’ MATCH-FIXING ALLEGATION

MBABANE – MTN National First Division League-bound Tambankulu Callies have dismissed match-fixing allegations ahead of their crucial season-ending MTN Premier League clash next week, with army team Young Buffaloes.

The Lubombo-based side Managing Director (MD) Sithembiso ‘Ngudze’ Mamba was on national radio, the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS 1) Sport Show hosted by seasoned Presenter Moses ‘Mthetho’ Matsebula, yesterday, to clear the air on the allegations. Ngudze revealed that there were rumours doing rounds that he had allegedly sold the game between his side and second-placed Buffaloes, who need to win tomorrow and the last match to be crowned champions.

Buffaloes closed the gap on leaders and title favourites Green Mamba on Wednesday in a replay match that ended 1-0 to the former. The army side is trailing leaders Green Mamba by a point and it is alleged that since BoBhejane had already been confirmed relegated, they had allegedly sold the match to Amathole’zinyathi. The game between the two sides is billed for next week at a venue yet to be confirmed by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE).

The seasoned football administrator revealed that when going around the streets he learnt that he was now the subject of match-fixing. He claimed that some of the teams that were vying for honours were believed to be coming for free points from him since they had already failed to cheat relegation. However, he said there was no way their brand would be compromised.

Unfortunate

“We are making our own history; there is no one who we will give free points. I think it’s now three or four times facing Buffaloes on their quest to return to Africa and unfortunately for them they failed to get the points at Tambankulu. This is what is going to happen even next week, we won’t give anyone points,” Mamba said after he was called by this publication.He said there was no one who would buy the game from them as they were determined to continue with their good run against the Mandla ‘Stofu’ Dlamini-led team.

“Last season we drew 2-2 while in the other season we played 0-0. They know that they don’t win against us when playing at Tambankulu, so these rumours are not true,” he said. He also said that it would not be fair to current top goal scorer in Mbabane Swallows attacking midfielder Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst to allow a certain Buffaloes player to score four goals against them.

“We heard that there is a Young Buffaloes player who is going to score four goals against us because we will let him do so. This is not going to be fair to Felix, who has worked hard for his 20 goals in the season. The player is Njabulo Maziya but we can’t allow such to happen. They will win because they have worked hard for it. We are going there to fight for our brand,” Ngudze clarified.

He further said that they would prepare well for the army side and should they win the match against them, it would be through their hard work and through match-fixing not selling the points to them. Meanwhile, no immediate comment could be obtained from Buffaloes on the allegations as efforts to get one from the club’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sandile Gwebu’s were in vain.

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