AFTER SURVIVING TOUGH MOZ SIDE TEST IN CAF: ‘BIRDS’ CLOSER TO E12.3M

(At Lalgy Arena Stadium) 
(Courtesy of Instacash)

Ferroviário da Beira...... (0)0 
Mbabane Swallows........ (0)0 
(Swallows won 1-0 on aggregate)

MATOLA – Football hinges on goals; whether won through finesse or grit, victory invariably revolves around scoring.

This is precisely what Mbabane Swallows accomplished, triumphing in an unsightly manner with an aggregate score of 1-0, thanks to Karim Madja’s strike in the first leg of the CAF Champions League held at Lucas Moripe Stadium, over a week ago. The Caleb Ngwenya-led side completed the task here in Mozambique, securing a goalless stalemate against Ferroviário da Beira to set a date with South Africa’s heavyweights, Mamelodi Sundowns. Swallows are now just 180 minutes away from clinching around E12.3 million. They will get this windfall if they pass the Sundowns test and reach the group of stages of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) premier club competition.

However, the path ahead will not be a straightforward one for Swallows, as they are set to face off against the formidable Mamelodi Sundowns, the winners of the 2016 CAF Champions League. The second preliminary round of the CAF main tournament is scheduled to take place between September 13-15, with the return leg a week later.

One-sided

From the outset, the match unfolded as a one-sided affair with the ‘Birds’ diligently defending throughout the entire 90 minutes. The hosts were eager to overturn the 1-0 deficit they had incurred in Pretoria during the first leg, yet Swallows’ defence stood resolute. The hosts registered six attempts on goal in the first half but failed to breach the net. Kingsley Kwakyi was instrumental at the back, clearing dangerous dead balls, while Karim Madja also showed his mettle by averting a certain goal from Manucho in the 30th-minute. Additionally, goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela demonstrated his agility by parrying a close-range volley from Joao 10 minutes prior to halftime. The home side endeavoured to break the stalemate, but the visitors managed to keep their net intact until the referee’s whistle for halftime. Upon resuming play, Swallows came precariously close to scoring, but Ayanda Gandlela’s shot from the edge of the box was thwarted by Simplex in the 60th  minute.

Pressure

The Mozambican outfit maintained relentless pressure on the Eswatini team, yet Captain Kwakhe Thwala and his colleagues excelled in ensuring the scoreline remained unchanged. The home side nearly found the back of the net as full-time approached, but Gustavo squandered a free-kick just outside the box when the simplest option would have been to breach the wall and score in the top corner. Once more, Swallows managed to clear the ball and before anyone could register the moment, the final whistle erupted, igniting scenes of jubilation from the travelling Swallows supporters.

Over 500 fans, vastly outnumbering the home supporters, erupted in song with their fervent rendition of ‘Maswaiswai sinitsandza nonkhe.’ Officials, including Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane and former President Bishop Bheki Lukhele, were seen joining the celebrations, while the bewildered Mozambican crowd looked on in admiration at the exuberant display.

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