‘BIRDS’ SLAY SORRY ‘WESLIANS’
● Capital city giants fire three unanswered goals against strugglers to boost title hopes
MBABANE – Mbabane Swallows exhibited their dominance on the field, as they triumphed over a lacklustre Manzini Wanderers, securing an emphatic 3-0 victory.
Swallows proved their prowess by finding the back of the net in both halves, with Orion Samba, the Man of the Match, Sizolwethu ‘Nunu’ Shabalala and Siyabonga ‘Gusheshe’ Zwane all contributing to the scoreline, igniting scenes of jubilation among the dedicated Swallows supporters.
This resounding win propelled Umkhonto KaShaka to the third position on the league table, amassing 34 points and rising from their previous fourth spot.
Struggle
On the other hand, Wanderers continued to struggle, languishing third from the bottom with a mere 14 points to their name.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for ‘Weslians’, and a couple of their fans were seen demanding the dismissal of Head Coach Ikarbot Masocha in the aftermath of the disastrous result.
It was a stark reminder of Wanderers’ struggles, as their last victory against Swallows dated back to December 18, 2020.
To compound their misery, the maroon and white outfit have not secured a league win since January 16, 2024, when they overcame the defending champions, Green Mamba, with a 1-0 scoreline.
The match unfolded as a tale of two halves, with the visitors putting up a spirited display, almost matching the hosts in the first half.
Stronger
However, it was the hosts who came out stronger, particularly in the dying minutes of the first half. It was the exceptional ‘Nunu’ who was awarded the Man of the Match title, receiving a prize of E2 000, courtesy of MTN and Upper Interior.
Shabalala showcased his brilliance by slipping the ball between the legs of Manqoba Nhlabatsi, delivering a curling cross that saw Orion rise above the rest to head the ball into the left top corner, leaving Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza frozen in disbelief.
The red and white faithful had to breathe a collective sigh of relief as their team finally found the back of the net, after growing frustrated with their inability to score, especially considering their 3-1 victory over maroon and white ensemble in the previous round.
The first half concluded with the Caleb Ngwenya -led charges leading by a solitary goal, courtesy of Orion’s well-timed header in the sixth minute of added time. Wanderers came close to equalising shortly after, but a cross from Hassan aimed for Banele Mdluli was effectively cleared by the Swallows defenders.
As the second half commenced, ‘Nunu’ continued to shine, capping off his exceptional performance by extending Swallows’ lead.
Defence-splitting
He received a defence-splitting pass from Nhlanhla Ngwenya and skilfully tapped the ball past the advancing ‘Nkomishi’, making it 2-0 in favour of Swallows.
The home side seemed to operate like a well-oiled machine, dominating the field during the final stages of the match.
Despite missing a couple of golden opportunities, Ayanda Gadlela and ‘Nunu’ showcased their attacking prowess.
However, it was Siyabonga Zwane who delivered the final blow, capitalising on a cross from ‘Nunu’. Zwane soared above the former Swallows goalkeeper ‘Nkomishi’, heading the ball into the net and sealing the victory.