It’s an open league title race – G. Mamba’s Lulane
“We won’t allow complacency to get into our heads and we are happy that the players have grasped our philosophy.”
MBABANE – Ahead of the crunch MTN Premier League game against Mbabane Highlanders tomorrow, Green Mamba are not counting their eggs before they hatch.
As much as they sit at the summit with a three-point advantage over second-placed Young Buffaloes and also managed to outfox Highlanders 3-0 in the first round, their Assistant Coach Sandile Lulane said they were not going to relax as the road was yet long before the end.
“We won’t allow complacency to get into our heads and we are happy that the players have grasped our philosophy. We don’t want to be comfortable as the league race is still open for anyone to win,” he said as he addressed the media during their pre-match briefing at Sigwaca House, yesterday afternoon.
Lulane said that all went well in their preparations as he represented the Head Coach Ernest Mavuso, who led Highlanders for nearly the entire first round last season, going nine games unbeaten before he was unceremoniously relieved of his duties. He also highlighted that injured midfield maestro Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu was back from his injury and he was knocking hard to be starter as they were facing a big club with every player motivated to play. Highlanders went on to finish second in the standings, one point behind champions Royal Leopard last season and are challenging again this season, but nine points behind Green Mamba. Highlanders sit on fourth with 34 points to their 43.
Green Mamba in-form captain and midfielder Mxolisi Mkhonto declared war on his rival younger brother Philani Mkhonto. He said it was a pleasure for him to face his brother in this matchup as he had a point to prove on who was better between the two of them, especially after the latter missed the reverse fixture through injury.
“I am happy to play against Philani as I want to show him that I am better than him by defeating him as now he keeps on saying that he was not around in the first game. He stands no chance as the level that I am currently in makes me unstoppable, even his coach knows that,” he said referring to his former Coach Dumsani ‘DU’ Makhanya, who is with Highlanders now.
He also said Philani should expect more from him in this game, while jokingly encouraging Highlanders’ goalkeeper and captain Khanyakwezwe Shabalala to pass the message to his brother for him. Shabalala responded by saying even Philani was telling them he wanted teach his brother a lesson in the match.
“We know the magnitude of the game and we’re motivated to go all the way,” he said.
Meanwhile, Highlanders’ Makhanya said they were also working towards winning the match in their preparations and the spirit was positive.
“It’s immaterial of how we played last week as we have rectified our mistakes and we are not yet out of the race as the league is still open, just like Lulane just mentioned,” Makhanya said.
He then assured the team’s supporters that they would not allow Green Mamba to complete a double over them. He further said that even though they had minor knocks ahead of the game, central defender Peter Dlamini was one player he was sure would not be part of the match due to an injury.