‘BUFFS’ THROUGH TO SEMIS

LOBAMBA – Referee, Wandile ‘Mancane’ Magagula is one of a kind, this somewhat petite whistle man, who stole the show for all the wrong reasons in this SwaziBank Cup quarter-final tie yesterday.

He and his assistants, in particular first assistant Celumusa Malinga, were a comedy of errors – operating from their own rule book to make a mockery of the game.
Magagula, towards the dying minutes of the clash shocked not only the more or less 1000 soccer lovers but himself when he red-carded Buffaloes’ Sabelo ‘Bhiya’ Mazibuko but allowed the winger to return to the field only seconds later. It was unbelievable.

The jittery referee had earlier on sent Imphumelelo’s Sihle Khumalo for an early shower midway through the last half. With Buffaloes enjoying their solitary goal by marksman, Nhlanhla ‘Mshengu’ Kunene, their left back Muhle Dlamini was also shown a red by referee for a second bookable offence. Dlamini was apparently delaying. There could be no qualms with his red. It was, however, Mazibuko’s red card, which the referee cancelled after the player had even walked off the pitch that spoilt the entire afternoon.

Imphumelelo, the National First Division ensemble could still be cursing their gods even at this moment on how they could turn their backs on them in such a manner after doing everything possible to advance to the semi-finals of the lucrative tournament for the first time.
They even had what looked to have been a genuine goal disallowed. No. It was not disallowed. The referee and his first assistant were again found wanting, as they failed to spot what had looked to be a cracking header cross the goal line.

From a corner kick on the right flnak, Imphumelelo thought they had found the equaliser when Man of the Match, Sicelimphilo Dlamini connected with a header and the ball ricocheted off the horizontal and bounced over the goal line before desperate Buffaloes defender Samkelo Lushaba cleared. Imphumelelo really had their more fancied opponents by the scruff of the neck for prolonged periods of this clash. Twice if not thrice in the first half, they came face to face with the Buffaloes’ goalkeeper Sicelo Mkhwanazi but somehow managed to miss when scoring seemed easier. Mlungisi Dlamini, Mbuso Mabuza, Sihle Khumalo and Sicelimphilo were all guilty of missing some gilt-edged scoring chances that could have seen them wrap up the game in the first half. They were bound to be punished.

Punished they were seven minutes after the restart when ‘Mshengu’ rose like a humming bird to nod home a well floated corner kick on the right flank. Kunene is not one to miss such opportunities and even though the striker had been struggling the whole afternoon, he did what he does best – scoring goals. It was the killer blow and all the army side needed to go past a resisting and impressive Imphumelelo side.

Man of the Match: Sicelimphilo Dlamini (Imphumelelo) – He outplayed Mphile ‘Nyandoro’ Tsabedze and co in the battle of the wits in the middle of the park.
Referee: Wandile ‘Mancane’ Magagula (Horrible game)\

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