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SITEKI - Bad weather saw the clash between Mbabane Highlanders and Malanti Chiefs abandoned with nine minutes remaining before full-time with the score at a 1-all draw.

This was during an MTN Premier League game played here yesterday afternoon. The abandonment of the Week 26 clash was due to darkness, thunder and lightning experienced in most parts of the country yesterday afternoon.

Rescheduled

The match will now be rescheduled for another date as per the 2021/ 22 MTN Premier League rules and regulations that an abandoned match due to bad weather will be rescheduled by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE).

Match Commissioner Mbongiseni Fakudze confirmed that the situation at that time forced them to abandon the match.

“It’s dark and there is lightening, so it is better to call off the match because even if you wait, the field will be unplayable due to the darkness,” he said.

Worth noting is that there are no floodlights at the KaLanga Technical Centre.

Abandonment

It was Mbabane Highlanders who received the abandonment of the match with a smile as they were under pressure from Malanti Chiefs who had equalised 10 minutes before the game was stopped. Malanti scored through Muhle Shiba, whose ground shot outside 18 area beat goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala.

Highlanders had taken the lead through trusted striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa who netted a minute before the break. It was his 22nd goal of the season but now he is back at 21 goals as the game was not finished.

They will now face Royal Leopard who are now leading by three points at the top having played a game more. Leopard cruised to a 3-0 against Tambuti.