‘Champions beat the best’
MBABANE
– “To be a champion, you need to beat the best.”
The above statement was made by Young Buffaloes Assistant Coach Sabelo ‘Skhiya’ Mnisi, during the pre-match media conference for his team and log leaders Green Mamba at Sigwaca House yesterday. The two sides meet today at Nsukuwansuku Stadium at Mhlume, in what is a top-of-thetable and potential title decider clash, as Buffaloes trail Green Mamba by four points with three games left before the curtain falls for the 2022/23 MTN Premier League season.
Mnisi revealed that preparations were going well ahead of the epic clash against Mabon’ ahlonishwe, formerly Inyoka Eluhlazana and they knew the importance of this game. A win for Green Mamba would mean that they will be crowned champions for the third time, a feat they last achieved in the 2018/19 season.
Injury
“We know that they are on top, but in order to be a champion, you need to beat the best. I must say that we are ready for them and we are injury free,” Mnisi said.
The former Mhlambanyatsi Rovers strong defender said as coaches they needed not to motivate the players, as a game against the Correctional Services side was one of their biggest matches – it is derby. He further said that they were going to face a dangerous side as just being on top of the log made them deadly.
THE CAPTAINS IN THEIR OWN WORDS:
Nhlanhla ‘Chippa’ Gwebu (Y. Buffaloes) “This game speaks for itself as you know that it’s a derby, but we are ready for Green Mamba. We know that they signed quality players this season; I must say that we are not prepared to be bitten by a snake. We are motivated as this game will decide who the seniors between the two forces teams are. It is very painful to lose against them, the three points at stake will be crucial for us.”
“Let me assure our supporters that we will win this game as we need all the points at stake,” he said.
Meanwhile, his counterpart in gaffer Ernest Mavuso also said preparations were going according to their plan, as you could not pin-point their weakness. Mavuso said he had worked with the psychological aspect of his players ahead of the game and that was the reason
Mxolisi Mkhonto (G. Mamba)
“The spirit is high among the boys as everyone is pushing and we have eased the coaches’ work. We are looking forward to this game as we want to win it at all cost. After winning this game before us, the players, who were not getting game time, might be used for the remaining two fixtures. We know that Buffaloes is an experienced side, so every player should bring his ‘A’ game.”
they were on top of the log.
“I instilled that the players should exceed my expectations and once they did that it then becomes easy for them to get the desired goals,” he said.
The former Mbabane Highlanders mentor highlighted that the league was not in their hands for now, but winning it would be one of the greatest achievements in his career as a coach.