‘Mlilo’ burns Wanderers

Royal Leopard players celebrate one of their goals against Manzini Wanderers during Sunday's 2-all draw. The police side won the replayed match 1-0 last night at Somhlolo National Stadium to advance to the semi-finals where they will play Green Mamba

(At Somhlolo National Stadium)

Leopard..................................(0)1
Mlilo 51st
Wanderers.............................(0)0

LOBAMBA –Itak’setamo! Tear gas  canisters had to be fired last night as hub giants Manzini Wanderers crashed out of the Swazi Telecom Charity Cup at the hands of Royal Leopard.

Long before fully armed OSSU officers jumped into action – by firing the canisters towards the Wanderers grandstand after the ill-tempered clash watched by one of the most impressive crowds to root for a night clash at the national stadium – one Zweli ‘Mlilo’ Nxumalo had done the damage with a well taken goal, a worthy winner and a stunning effort by the former Umbelebele Cosmos midfielder.
It was exactly six minutes after the restart. The opening half had rather been lukewarm, as both teams struggled to create decent goal scoring opportunities.

Deployed in an unfamiliar right wing position, Nxumalo struck like a thief in the still of the night – swift, unannounced and in deadly measure. First he dispossessed a jittery Thando Mdluli, filling in for the missing Bertram Dlamini in the left back position of the ball.

Nxumalo then with the stealth of a cheetah, the craftiness of a hare and with the patience of a hyena surged towards the already approaching back-again Wanderers goalkeeper Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza.

The Leopard player held his breath and so did everyone else in the about 3 000 crowd, obviously mostly praying with the ‘Weslians’ – and then he coolly picked his spot. With a low shot, a grass cutter really that seemed to hiss all the way, the midfielder placed the ball far beyond the reach of the former Sivutsa Stars goalkeeper.

It settled in the far corner of the net. The Leopard grandstand made up mostly of the police recruits currently undergoing training at the Police College, erupted in pure unbridled joy. It was ecstasy on the field. The Leopard players mobbed the goalscorer. Student coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane on the Leopard bench was in sixth heaven. Leopard could smell blood.

Wanderers to their credit never gave up hope. The Manzini giants never stopped believing. Perhaps buoyed by the memory of last weekend’s drama when they changed the game on its head – even their supporters never stopped cheering and singing last night.

There was to be no comeback though.
Leopard goalkeeper Mphikeleli Dlamini, who seems to be mastering the art of time wasting, was again at it. At every given opportunity, the lanky goalkeeper would fall down and be attended to by his team’s medics. It ensured Wanderers never found their rhythm. Frustartion got the better of the Wanderers players, as second half substitute Cedric Gulwa almost started a nasty skirmish. He attempted to literally throw out of the field a Leopard player, he accused of faking an injury as time, which waits for no man ticked menacingly on. A mini scuffle ensued.

 New Wanderers South African coach Kenny Ndlazi was justifiably angry at the Leopard’s players’ tactics claiming the game was only played for 60 minutes instead of the regulatory 90 minutes.
To Leopard, it mattered not. They are through to the semi-finals where they will meet security rivals Correctional Services ensemble, Green Mamba.

Failing to accept the bitter pill prescribed by their opponents, Wanderers’ fans threw objects inside the field of play and the police officers retaliated by firing tear gas canisters. The police recruits were ordered to remain on the pitch for about 20 minutes as police ensured they had dispelled the rowdy crowd. However, no serious injures were reported at the time of going to press last night.  

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