‘SAVIOLA’ HERO AS ‘BUFFS’ FOUR-CE PPK RANGERS OUT

BUHLENI – Young Buffaloes marksman Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze fired a hat-trick to help his side cruise to the quarter-finals of the Ingwenyama Cup with an emphatic 4-0 win over Pigg’s Peak Rangers.

In a David vs Goliath clash, the ambitious National First Division side Pigg’s Peak Rangers took on the 2019 champions Young Buffaloes in the Last 16 of the prestigious Ingwenyama Cup at Mkhuzweni Technical Centre, just outside the small but bustling Buhleni Town yesterday. The minnows from Pigg’s Peak showed no fear as they took the game to their illustrious opponents.

The early exchanges were dominated by the Buffaloes, but their profligacy in front of goal allowed the Rangers to remain in the contest. Buffaloes’ attempts were either high and wide or easily dealt with by the impressive Lindani Dlamini in the Rangers’ goal. Against the run of play, Buffaloes finally found the breakthrough. In the 33rd minute, ‘Saviola’  scored an acrobatic goal after being set up by the lively Bongwa ‘Owa’ Matsebula, giving his team a slender lead going into the break.

The second half saw Buffaloes come out with renewed vigour, and they were soon rewarded for their persistence. In the 68th minute, Lizwe Zwane doubled Buffaloes’ advantage, much to the dismay of the Rangers’ technical bench, who felt the goal was scored from an offside position. The goal was scored from goal-mouth scramble, as the hosts stuttered in clearing their lines.

Dismissal

The dismissal of Rangers’ Coach Bongumusa ‘Giggs’ Mdluli to the stands only added to the drama, but the army side were not done yet. In the 79th minute, ‘Saviola’ completed his brace to make it 3-0 with a looped ball after he was set up by Owa again and on the stroke of full-time, he added his third to complete a well-deserved hat-trick after a quick interchange of passes with Siboniso ‘Gaxa’ Ngwenya and sealed the victory for the former champions.

The final score of 4-0 was a fair reflection of Buffaloes’ dominance, as they showcased their experience and quality to overcome a spirited Rangers side. The result keep Buffaloes in search of their second Ingwenyama Cup title, while the minnows from Pigg’s Peak will have to lick their wounds and regroup for their next challenge in the country’s second-tier.

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