‘BIRDS’ DROP TO 3RD

MANZINI - Capital City giants Mbabane Swallows squandered vital points following a disheartening 0-1 defeat to Royal Leopard, last night. 

A last-minute header from Sibonelo ‘Jekwa’ Simelane in last night’s feisty MTN Premier League clash at Mavuso Sports Centre clinched a crucial victory for Leopard, rekindling their aspirations for the E100 000 first-round ‘carrot’. The police ensemble have now leapfrogged Swallows into second place with 22 points, while the ‘Birds’ have slipped to third with 20 points. This loss has severely undermined Swallows’ prospects of clinching the first round honours, with just three matches remaining before the first round concludes. 

The hosts were without their Head Coach, Caleb Ngwenya, who is in negotiations for a potential return after reportedly resigning amid a leadership crisis. Ngwenya has now missed two fixtures, the first being the encounter against Nsingizini Hotspurs. Swallows’ performances have been increasingly lacklustre, as they have failed to secure a win or find the net in their last three outings. This decline can, in part, be attributed to the financial turmoil plaguing the team, with players occasionally boycotting training sessions over two months’ unpaid wages. 
As the match commenced, expectations were high, hinting at an early goal, but both sides squandered half-chances.

Halted

Play was temporarily halted for five minutes when Linda Mbuli of Leopard and Swallows’ Kingsley Kwayki collided, resulting in Mbuli receiving treatment for a head injury at the half-hour mark. Biko Sibandze came agonisingly close, as his shot narrowly missed the target following a defensive lapse in the 30th minute. Five minutes later, Leon Manyisa’s ambitious long-range volley also went off target by mere inches. Banele ‘Neymar’ Shongwe nearly put Leopard ahead, but a spectacular save from Bongiswa Dlamini thwarted his efforts approximately 12 minutes before half-time. 

Swallows countered with a swift break as Ayanda Gadlela’s solo run found Newman Philiso, who delivered a cross to Sibandze. His shot was expertly parried by Leopard goalkeeper Mlamuli Makhanya about 10 minutes before the interval. The most promising chance in the early minutes of the second half fell to Felix Kone, whose shot was saved by Bongiswa just 10 minutes after play resumed. Karas squandered a potential breakthrough by delaying a pass to Siyabonga Zwane, which was intercepted and cleared to safety at the hour mark. 

Saved

Leopard continued to close in on a goal, yet a shot from Felix Badenhorst was saved by Bongiswa with 15 minutes remaining. Siyabonga Zwane’s effort was also thwarted by Makhanya, 13 minutes shy of full time. In a dramatic turn of events, a cross from Badenhorst found ‘Jekwa’, who headed home in the 89th minute, sending the over 500 Swallows supporters into despair. The hosts almost equalised in the dying minutes, but Zwane’s one-on-one opportunity against Leopard keeper Mlamuli Makhanya was saved in the dying moments of the match.

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