Amawele frustrate G. Mamba

(At Kalanga Technical Centre)

Green Mamba………… (0)1

Sikhali 59^th

Amawele……………… (0)1

Boniswa 66^th

SITEKI – How quickly the intoxicating wine of victory turns to the sobering water of a stalemate.

Much like their first-round encounter, Green Mamba and Amawele could not be separated, proving once again that this fixture is a tale of missed opportunities and resilient defences.

Only days ago, Green Mamba were the giant-killers, the executioners of the Ingwenyama Cup defending champions, Royal Leopard. They arrived at the Kalanga Technical Centre with the wind in their sails and the top four in their sights. But football, in its cruel, poetic irony, had other ideas.

It was a narrative arc mirrored in the south; just as Mamelodi Sundowns secured their continental royalty in the CAF Champions League last eight only to stumble against TS Galaxy in the Nedbank Cup, so too did Bongani Mhlongo’s men find their ascent halted. A victory would have seen them leapfrog the chasing pack into fourth; instead, they remain anchored in sixth, adrift on 28 points, while Amawele remain in 12^th place with 21 points.

The first act was a scoreless symphony of near misses.

Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze unleashed a free-kick in the 15^th minute that screamed of intent, only to be denied by the defiant palms of Amawele goalkeeper Bhekisisa Sikhondze.

Then came the talisman, Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa, whose 20^th-minute header whispered past the upright.

Amawele refused to be mere spectators in this drama. Lihle Mnisi let fly a volley from distance that defied geometry, missing by the thinnest of margins, before Siyabonga Simelane produced a moment of goalkeeping divinity to deny Lindokuhle Dlamini from point-blank range.

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