G. Mamba ‘bite’ Wanderers
MAN OF THE MATCH:
M. Wanderers ........ 0
G. Mamba .............. 1
Khethokuhle 20th
BABANE – It never rains but pours for hub giants, Manzini Wanderers as they were yesterday condemned to a damning 11th defeat of the season.
It only means more relegation worries for the fallen hub giants, who are swimming in a pool of financial challenges, due to not having any directors financially supporting the team; salaries have gone unpaid for about six months now. However, the maroon and white outfit who are flirting with relegation as they are one place and one point above the danger zone at the bottom part of the standings.
It was leaders Green Mamba who completed a double over LiWeseli, as Wanderers are also fondly known, when they edged them with a solitary goal. It was 3-1 in the first round.
Given yesterday’s scoreline, perhaps some supporters of the club will feel they lack a bit of luck, as in the games they lost recently they would perform but lose. Attacking midfielder Khethokuhle Mkhontfo was the difference in the match, with his 20th minute strike, taking his team four points clear of second-placed Young Buffaloes, who face rookies Nsingizini
MKhethokuhle Mkhontfo (G. Mamba) - A brilliant display by Mkhontfo and it was capped by the winning goal that keeps his team at the summit going to match-day 18 next week. He positioned himself well, came back to support his teammates when they lost possession. His final passes were also on point.
Hotspurs this afternoon.
The match is billed for Nsukuwansuku Stadium in Mhlume at 3pm. This was Green Mamba’s seventh consecutive win since the shock 2-1 defeat to Denver Sundowns on December 10, last year.
Wanderers on the other hand have not had a win in their last three matches and were fresh from a 3-1 baptism of fire by also relegation-troubled Tambuti FC, while it was Manzini Sea Birds who beat them 1-0 in the preceeding game.
MISSED
Coming to the game, despite ending with the wooden side of the spoon, the home team fairly played well and missed chances, which they could have easily converted to force a draw.
The Ernest Mavuso-led Green Mamba and log leaders were not playing their normal carpet football, owing to the bumpy surface of this pitch. This turned out to be a game of two halves, with the visiting side dominating the first half while Wanderers controlled proceedings in the last half.
The real chance that counted for the log leaders came just 10 minutes before the half-hour mark. It was the workaholic Njabulo Magagula who delivered a well-timed cross which Mkhontfo calmly headed past Sitali Nyambe from close range.
The home side could have levelled matters in the half-hour mark but Amos Layode missed the target by inches after a spilled ball by Green Mamba goalkeeper Xolani Gama.
In the second half the hosts were firing from all cylinders and as a result forced the away side to defend with all they had. A chance went begging after Wanderers’ William Kunene rounded off defender Mthunzi ‘Chippa’ Motsa, but saw his shot go just wide in the hour mark.
The home side was close to scoring 10 minutes from full time but a Njabulo ‘Koko’ Gama’s close range strike was saved by the Green Mamba goalkeeper.
In form Mxolisi Mkhonto was close to extending the lead, but Nyambe pulled a beautiful save from a free kick at the edge of the box five minutes before full-time.
The Weslians had themselves to blame after Sibonginkhosi ‘Gudas’ Dlamini took a poor shot just three yards from the goal and saw it easily saved by Gama two minutes before Referee Thulani Sibandze blew the final whistle.
All 14 teams in the elite league this season are to play a total 26 league matches as opposed to the 30 games played last season.
Currently, Wanderers are third from bottom (12th) with 14 points and have nine games to try and reach 30 points or slightly more to be assured of safety, but last season the survival mark was 30 points.
On 10th Tambuti have the same number of points with the same number of games remaining, while Callies have so far amassed 13 points. Rookies Seven Dreams have only seven points. The latter two sides also have nine matches to battle relegation and some of them still have the big teams to play.
Speaking to an expert on what these teams needed to change to survive relegation, former Royal Leopard star and Coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane, who is currently not attached to any team said this was a tough season.
FIGHT
“If you look at it this will go down to the last game and the bottom teams have to fight for draws in away games and win their home matches. So, that means they must be psychologically strong and focus on their games other than looking at the log, at the moment it isn’t saying anything as it will change from time to time,” he said.
Ntibane did not hide the fact that playing lesser games than last season meant more effort from the bottom-placed, teams, which currently include financially strained hub giants, Wanderers.
Ntibane is a well decorated coach having managed a quadruple as Leopard coach and has coached at junior national level, while also working for Ezulwini United and Tambankulu Callies most recently.
MTN 1ST DIVISION LEAGUE