SIX-ZLING MAMBA SWALLOW ‘BIRDS’

MANZINI – Humiliation!

After playing 180 minutes without conceding, Mbabane Swallows suffered their worst defeat in a final to lose the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Trade Fair Cup to a ‘trigger-happy’ Green Mamba yesterday. It was a goal fest for the Correctional Services side as they scored six unanswered goals against the hapless capital city giants, after they were reduced to 10-man just 20 minutes after the referee of the tournament, Celumusa Siphepho’s  first whistle. In a day of hat-tricks, joint top scorer of the tournament Njabulo Thwala and Kwenzokuhle Khumalo steered the Ernest Mavuso side to glory before over 2 000 fans at Mavuso Sports Centre.

venomous

The venomous Green Mamba clinched the E300 000 champion prize and the trophy. The reigning MTN Premier League kings secured their title under the tenure of Mavuso, after joining them last season. Meanwhile, Caleb Ngwenya’s charges were left with a consolation prize of E150 000. Back into the game, there was no need for the Correctional side to apply maximum force against the capital city giants, who could not even harm a fly. They opened an unassailable lead in the first half, wrecking the net four times and putting two in the second stanza, with some fans failing to endure the annihilation of their team and opted to walk out of the venue. However, Swallows’ troubles began just 20 minutes after Celumusa Siphepho’s first whistle when Sandile Hlatjwako was given marching orders. Swallows were reduced to 10-man after a rough tackle on Peter Dlamini, which saw him go straight into the dressing rooms as they were already trailing with a solitary goal.

As if he had opened a can of warms, the  impressive green and white ensemble put four goals in the first stanza and two in the second half to keep the ‘Birds’ flying very close to the ground. The epic clash started with each side being cautious as they hunted down the first goal. Swallows made some few attacks on the opponent with Aristote Tamuzi taking a long range shot from the centre that forced Green Mamba shot-stopper Xolani Gama tipping off for a fruitless corner just 14 minutes into the game. The trouble began just two minutes later when Njabulo ‘Magwegwe’ Magagula brought in a cross that found Kwenzokuhle Khumalo inside the box, with enough time to spoil Qiniso Nyawo’s clean sheet in the tournament.

score

It was then Tfwala’s turn to record his name in the score sheet with a long range shot to double matters. As if  that was not enough, he was back five minutes before the half-time to add more woes for ‘Birds’, who had looked troubled and vulnerable after being reduced to 10 men. Kwenzokuhle was back in the 42nd minute to complete the first half goal fest with a cracker. From restart, Green Mamba were still not satisfied with Player of the Tournament Thwala completing his hat-trick just five minutes after restart. He finished off a rebound after Nyawo made some few saves. Just three minutes before the hour mark, Kwenzokuhle hit the last nail in the coffin and thereafter was rested. The giants jostled each other with Swallows falling to score in their last game while Green Mamba walked into the land of victory.

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