(At Mavuso Sports Centre)
Ns. Hotspurs……1
Masoso 60th
Tamb. Celtics…..0
MANZINI – A lone goal from forward Sambulo ‘Masoso’ Simelane was enough to see Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League-bound Nsingizini Hotspurs advance to the next round of the 2025 8Bet Trade Fair Cup.
They narrowly defeated Premier League newcomers Tambankulu Celtics 1-0 in a fiercely contested game at Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday evening.
The Shiselweni-based outfit came to this game minus five of their key players, who are in camp with Sihlangu. The Zdravko ‘Loga’ Logarusic charges are preparing for the back-to-back 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon and Libya later next week.
The match, which drew a sizable crowd, was attended by a host of notable figures, including government ministers and legendary Kaizer Chiefs footballers Itumeleng Khune and George Lebese, who are promoting the tournament. Hotspurs, known as Insingizi Yezulu, went into the game having made a surprise announcement of their new signings.
This list was headlined by former Mbabane Highlanders Captain Thando Langa, who was present at the stadium, but did not make his debut. Other new arrivals who featured in the unveiling were former Rangers forward Mlungisi ‘14’ Hlatjwako, ex-Sisonkhe forward Quality Dlamini and attacking midfielder Jordyn Vermaak.
After a 30-minute delay due to the late marking of pitch lines, the match finally kicked off at 4:29pm. Nsingizini’s Ayanda ‘Gandaganda’ Gadlela was the first to test the Celtics goalkeeper, Simiso Tsabedze, whose fingertips managed to tip a powerful shot over the crossbar in the 11th minute. Celtics, however, were not without their own threats.
Full article available in our publication.
Leave a comment