Young Buffaloes………………….(1) 1
Mlandvo Shongwe 28th
Pigg’s Peak Professionals……(0) 0
MANZINI – Young Buffaloes booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup after edging Pigg’s Peak Professionals 1-0 at Mavuso Sports Centre on Monday night.
Mlandvo Shongwe’s 28th-minute goal proved enough to settle a closely contested last-16 encounter, although Professionals will feel they had opportunities to take the game in a different direction.
The newly-promoted side started with intent, creating two good opportunities through Sive Mamba inside the opening 15 minutes. The first edition champions? Buffaloes, survived the early pressure before eventually finding the breakthrough when Shongwe beat the advancing Siboniso Kunene to put his side ahead.
Professionals continued to threaten after falling behind, with Vusimuzi Dlamini seeing his effort cleared off the line in the 35th minute. Two minutes later, Njabulo Thwala forced Buffaloes goalkeeper Simo Ndzinisa into a save with a powerful effort.
Mamba came close to restoring parity shortly before half-time, but his effort went narrowly wide of the post, leaving Buffaloes with their 1-0 advantage at the interval.
The Pigg’s Peak-based side continued to search for an equaliser after the restart, but their task became increasingly difficult when Banele Dlamini was sent off in the 69th minute following a challenge on Buffaloes player Ali Matse.
Buffaloes then had an opportunity to extend their lead when Owa Matsebula’s volley was saved by the Professionals goalkeeper with 10 minutes remaining.
Thwala almost produced an equaliser in the 86th minute when his free-kick appeared destined for the net, but Buffaloes goalkeeper Ndzinisa made another important save to preserve his side’s advantage.
Despite further attempts from both teams in the closing stages, Buffaloes held on to secure a narrow victory and advanced to the Last Eight.
They will now face holders Nsingizini Hotspurs in tomorrow’s quarter-final, in a repeat of last year’s semi-final encounter. Nsingizini defeated Buffaloes at that stage before going on to beat Green Mamba in the final and claim the 8Bet Trade Fair Cup. In the inaugural edition in 2024, Buffaloes beat Moneni Pirates by 2-0 to claim the E600 000 first prize.
The quarter-final will therefore provide Buffaloes with an opportunity to avenge last year’s defeat, although they will first have to manage the demands of playing again less than 24 hours after their victory over Professionals.
A number of Buffaloes players were drawn from the army training camp at Mbuluzi, making recovery an important consideration ahead of tomorrow’s fixture.
Professionals, meanwhile, bow out of the competition after a spirited showing against the defending champions. Their squad includes experienced players such as former Green Mamba players Njabulo Thwala and Banele Dlamini. Other are former Mbabane Highlanders players Siwakhile Shongwe and Colani Dlamini, who previously played for Royal Leopard.
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