RANGERS PUT BRAKES ON LOW-FLYING ‘BIRDS’

BY MENGAMELI MABUZA
(King Sobhuza Il Memorial Stadium)
Rangers .......................0
Swallows .....................0

NHLANGANO – Mbabane Swallows were held to a goalless draw by Rangers, allowing them to retain their position at the top of the MTN Premier League standings.
The draw sees Swallows level on points with Green Mamba at 19, but they hold the advantage on head-to-head results. Royal Leopard remain in third place.
Prior to the match, the Mbabane giants faced the threat of forfeiture due to ongoing salary disputes with their players. Reports from our sister publication, Eswatini News, indicated that players had rejected a E1 500 offer to play, demanding two months’ salaries instead.

This turmoil has led to some players missing training, with only a few reporting for camp before the game. To incentivise participation, the Swallows management provided each player with E2 000 just before kickoff, as a crucial meeting was scheduled for later today. The match began energetically, with the home side dominating the first 25 minutes. Sandile ‘Maree’ Thwala nearly opened the scoring, but his shot went wide. Despite several opportunities, neither team could find the net. In the 24th minute, veteran striker Musa ‘Lagos’ Mamba squandered a golden chance after a free kick from Thwala, sending his attempt over the bar. Swallows gradually found their rhythm, with Bongi ‘Karas’ Magagula also missing a promising chance.

The second half saw Swallows coach Caleb Ngwenga make a triple substitution, bringing on Ayanda ‘ Gandaganda’ Gadlela, Phiwokuhle ‘ Skosh’ Shabangu and Newman Philiso. This change nearly paid off when a well-coordinated play between Skosh and Kwakhe Thwala resulted in a close save by Rangers goalkeeper Dlamini. As the match drew to a close, both teams pressed for a winner, but the deadlock remained unbroken, marking Rangers’ first points against Swallows in their last four encounters. With the latest result in hand, Rangers and Swallows shift their focus to their upcoming fixtures. For the log leaders, a six-point thriller looms as they prepare to face off against Royal Leopard in a match that could shape the course of their season. Meanwhile, Sihle Mavimbela’s side will take on Illovo in what is sure to be a closely-contested fixture.

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