Young Buffaloes out to end Madlenya jinx

MBABANE – Young Buffaloes face a significant challenge as they aim to secure one of the four semi-final spots, standing on their way is Madlenya FC known to cause upsets.

In their most recent encounter during the PLE Trade Fair Cup 2023 third-place match, the Mandla ‘Sitofu’ Dlamini side defeated the Lubombo-based side 2-0, reversing their previous defeat in the first round of the MTN Premier League encounter in December 2023, where the William ‘Baggio’ Gamedze side won 2-0 with goals from attacking midfielder Lindelwa Mngometulu and versatile player Mpendulo Gamedze. Notably, the army side has yet to secure a victory against Madlenya since the 2022/23 season, with the other matches resulting in 1-1 draws in the league.

Given the significance of this knockout match, Buffaloes approach the game with the motivation to replicate their success from the previous knockout encounter. They seek to maintain their dominance and advance to the last four of the competition.

As Amathole Ezinyathi prepare for the upcoming encounter, they face a few challenges in terms of players’ availability. Defensive midfielder Manqoba Mavimbela is unavailable due to a suspension resulting from accumulating yellow cards. Additionally, new signings Lucky ‘RoadThe

block’ Gamedze, formerly the captain of Madlenya FC, and former Rangers FC striker, Sandile ‘Magwegwe’ Mbingo are unable to participate as they are cup-tied, having played for other teams in this competition already.

EXcitiNG

This game promises to be an exciting and competitive match. The hosts will rely on their key players, such as former Madlenya players Njabulo Maziya, who has been in excellent scoring form, and Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze, who has been instrumental for the team. Bongwa ‘Owa’ Matsebula is another player that the visitors should pay close attention to, as he possesses both goal-scoring and assist-providing abilities.

On the other hand, Madlenya will need to overcome their recent 4-0 defeat against Mbabane Swallows and approach this match with motivation. Their goalkeeper, Dumsani Dlamini, will play a crucial role in maintaining a clean sheet. Sehluko Nkabinde’s presence in the midfield is expected to give the Lubombo outfit an edge, while attacking midfielder Lindelwa Mngometulu’s previous goal-scoring record against Buffaloes could prove invaluable in helping the team secure the semi-final spot.