FOUR-CEFUL ‘BIRDS’ JUMP TO 2ND

BUHLENI – Hat-trick hero Ayanda Gadlela inspired Mbabane Swallows to a massive 4-0 win over hapless Madlenya to keep their MTN Premier League title hopes alive.

In their very first game at Mkhuzweni Technical Centre, outside Buhleni, the hosts put up an excellent second half performance to put the hapless opponents to the sword yesterday. Substitute Siyabonga ‘Gusheshe’ Zwane hit the last nail in the coffin to ensure Swallows leapfrogged Green Mamba to occupy the second spot. The latter who were winless in the league in 2024, suffered a shock 0-2 defeat at MTN Premier League returnees Illovo in a simultaneous fixture. For Madlenya, the result was a bitter pill to swallow, as their league winless run stretched to three matches. Before yesterday’s upset, they lost to Illovo and Royal Leopard with 0-1 score lines.

After a frustrating opening half for both teams, Swallows turned up the heat on resumption of play following the introduction of the adventurous trio of Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Zwane and Leon Manyisa. In the absence of key players like Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst and Sandile ‘Shoe shine’ Hlatjwako, the likes of Sizolethu ‘Nunu’ Shabalala and Ncomo Gina got the nod, with the latter eventually pulled off as he did little impact. Madlenya who began life without former Skipper Lucky Gamedze who completed a switch to Young Buffaloes had glaring frailties at the back but had managed to force a goalless draw at the break. The game opened up in the second half, with ‘Gusheshe’ bringing the best out of goalkeeper Dumsani Dlamini with a long ranger stunner in the 47th minute.

Frustrated

The over 300 Swallows fans who were visibly frustrated were finally celebrating the opener as ‘Nunu’ set up Gadlela, who showed composure in box to fire home with aplomb two minutes before the hour-mark. Despite the introduction of the veteran Sethu Ngcamphalala, Madlenya still looked lost like an octopus in a garage. Swallows, on the other hand, were in no compromising mood, with Gadlela back to tap in his second 10 minutes from time from an initial ‘Nunu’ attempt before returning to complete his hat-trick with another shot from close range four minutes from time. Deep into stoppage time, Swallows’ appetite for goals remained insatiable. Zwane capitalised on a defensive mix-up to bulldoze his way into the box before beating the advancing goalkeeper with a low shot. It was the result that condemned Madlenya to their second biggest defeat of the season as they lost to Green Mamba by the same score line. Meanwhile, Swallows trail Inyoka eluhlazane by two points after suffering a 0-2 defeat at Illovo.

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