Wanderers have the edge in tonight’s clash!

Royal Leopard vs Manzini Wanderers
(Somhlolo National Stadium 7pm)

The road looks bumpy, potholed and rutted for police outfit, Royal Leopard who meet a rejuvenated Manzini Wanderers tonight.
It is a dark, shadowy and gloomy path,  which they will travel.

It is a replay of the abandoned clash of the Swazi Telecom Charity Cup playoff, which was called off by referee Simanga Nhleko with the teams tied at 2-2.
Tonight there must be a winner. There will be a winner.
The poor lighting system at the stadium should be a thing of the past, as the two teams battle to produce the fourth side to battle it out in the main tournament on 11 August. Wanderers will surely enter tonight’s encounter with a psychological advantage over their opponents.

The maroon and white outfit changed the initial game on its head in dramatic fashion by overcoming a 0-2 deficit. They should be on high tonight. New mentor, Kenny Ndlazi should fancy his chances, especially after Leopard let them off the hook with only two players on the substitute’s bench. His team is likely to be boosted by the signing of ace shot stopper, Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza, defender Ricky Sibiya and striker Siyabonga ‘Siya’ Nkambule.

Leopard on the other hand under the guidance of ‘student coach’ Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane should have corrected their mistakes by now if they hope to eliminate the hub giants. After a bright start, Leopard went to ‘sleep’ literally and paid the prize in the initial clash. Ntibane must get his tactics spot on this time if they are to qualify to the next stage. He does have an ace up his sleeve in the back again, Mxolisi ‘Stopper’ Mthethwa, whose experience is priceless.

‘Nyambose’ as he is affectionately called loves to pull the strings in the belly of the park and dictate play. He could be the difference tonight even though exhaustion seemed to have gotten the better of him in the abandoned game.

LEOPARD

Coach: Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane
Captain:  Mxolisi ‘Stopper’ Mthethwa
Key players: Sifiso Nkambule, Sicelo Mavimbela and Zweli ‘Mlilo’ Nxumalo
One to watch: Barry Steenkamp – He opened the scoring with a stunning ground shot that hissed all the way to the far corner of the net, leaving the Wanderers’ goalie bewildered. It was a fine strike from the marksman whose proficiency in front of goal cannot be doubted. He was allowed acres of space inside the danger area and the Wanderers defence will tell you – it was a fatal mistake.

WANDERERS

Coach: Kenny Ndlazi
Captain: Lwazi ‘Shana’ Maziya
Key players: Sicelo Chauke, Tawanda Chikuku and Sandile ‘Theo’ Motsa
One to watch: Sidumo Shongwe – The scorer of the all-too-important equaliser could haunt Leopard again this evening. Under the guidance of new mentor Ndlazi, Shongwe could be lethal, as he showed during the eventually abandoned clash. He toe poked the ball home in virtually the last kick of the game to send the team’s fans into delirium. He appeared to be falling down and losing possession but because he knows his route to the goal blindfolded, Shongwe did what had to be done.

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