LEOPARD BULLDOZE ’LANDERS

Highlanders...............(0)0
Leopard.....................(1)2
Junior 36th, Lungelo 50th

SITEKI – Eight-time Premier League champions Royal Leopard have marched to the summit, following a convincing 2-0 win over Mbabane Highlanders, yesterday.
A wonderful strike from enterprising midfielder Junior ‘Shisa Gesi’ Magagula and on-form forward Lungelo Tsabedze propelled the police side to the top on seven points alongside fellow security forces Green Mamba, who beat Sisonkhe by the same score. The feisty MTN Premier League clash was played before a sizeable crowd at KaLanga Technical Centre outside Siteki.

Unbeaten in the last three meetings before the game, Leopard were determined to take the game by the scruff of the neck from the word go, while Highlanders slowly grew into the game. Edwin Matsebula’s men went for the jugular, as they had up to seven out of eight of their Sihlangu players in the starting team. For Highlanders, they equally unleashed the best from their arsenal, with marquee signings Fabrice Mopina and Thabiso Mokenkoane getting the nod. However, the duo was submerged and deservedly got sacrificed in the second half. The latter was facing his former employers for the first time, but it turned out to be a fruitless outing.

Inside 20 minutes, Sihlangu marksman Felix Badenhorst proved why he deserves to play for the national side with a rocket from the edge of the box, which agonisingly missed the target before Tsabedze drew a beautiful save from Highlanders goalkeeper Qiniso Nyawo after he was set up by twin brother Fanelo. The ‘Black Bull’ eventually succumbed to ‘Ingwe Mabalabala’s relentless attacks. ‘Shisa Gesi’ broke the deadlock with a spectacular strike from outside the box in the 36th minute, as the opposition stuttered in clearing their lines. The goalkeeper stood no chance. It was a goal that separated the two sides when international referee Thulani Sibandze signalled for the breather.\

Leopard kept their feet on the accelerator on resumption of play. A minute into second half, a glancing header from Leopard import Felix Kone Lottin from a gorgeous cross from Mlamuli Msibi was parried to safety by Nyawo. The blue and white ensemble could not be kept out for too long, as Lungelo capitalised on a defensive mix-up to beat the goalkeeper with a low shot inside the box in the 50th minute. The goalkeeper had left his post but failed to clear the ball.

Highlanders who still had frozen Head Coach Mthunzi Ginindza watching from the stands played with intent after the hour mark. The coach is embroiled in a contractual dispute with former employers Rangers FC.  Ineffective Mopina was sacrificed on the hour mark for Mpilonhle ‘Loshy’ Khumalo, while Leopard introduced Jekwa Simelane and Bongani Ndzimandze to bring fresh legs in the midfield.

Towards the end, Highlanders played without cohesion at times and got stuck into a forest of bodies when they tried to get into the box. Leopard tightened the backdoor to grind the big win on the road. Notably, Highlanders, who have now failed to beat the police side in four straight league matches, suffered a double blow. The exciting Melusi ‘Mega’ Magagula was rushed to hospital after he was elbowed by ‘Jekwa’ in the face towards the end.

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