‘Birds’ seek to fly over Madlenya
MBABANE – MTN Premier League rookies Seven Dreams will invade Young Buffaloes’ territory in search of their second win of the season as the jaws of relegation seem to be opening wider in anticipation with each passing weekend.
The Mankayane-based side last won a match when they were under the stewardship of Coach Gcina Dlamini on October 30, 2022 when they beat Tambuti 1-0 in round four of the season.
Desperate
The rookies are in desperate to turn the corner soon, even though it seems as if the dreaded relegation axe is hovering over them as mathematically if they lose the this game, their way to the MTN National First Division will be more clear than before.
This side boast of a squad which can cause shock over the second placed army side as they added the trio of former
Royal Leopard in midfielders Sifiso ‘Sushi’ Nkambule, Mxolisi ‘General’ Lukhele and striker Barry Stenkamp.
These players come with an experience which they got from playing continental football, as they are also national team Sihlangu former players.
Their ‘dream’ to steal the maximum points from the Mandla ‘Stofu’ Dlamini charges will be like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as this side is capable of scoring more goals in a game as they boost the likes of ‘trigger happy’ goal-machine Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze and Bongwa ‘Owa’ Gamedze, who is also lethal in front of goals.
This is going to be an easy match for Amathole’zinyathi, but one can write the rookies out at own peril, as Coach Zwelibanzi ‘Botsotso’ Khoza is still searching for his first win since joining the team a month ago.
Buffaloes are coming to this match trailing log leaders Green Mamba by four points as their game against Nsingizini Hotspurs was cancelled due
Y. Buffaloes 3-0 S. Dreams
Sandile ‘Mshina’ Dlamini, Phumlani Ngwenya, Sifiso ‘Sushi’ Nkambule (S. Dreams)
Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze, Bongwa ‘Owa’ Matsebula, Bandile ‘Skoshi’ Shabangu (Y. Buffaloes)
to a waterlogged Mhlume Stadium last week. They are hoping to win this game at all cost to narrow the gap to a point.
The rookies on the other hand are still licking the wounds which were inflicted by Mbabane Swallows last week to condemn them deep into the relegation zone with only seven points from 17 attempts.
MBABANE – Operation ‘Bring back what is ours’ to haunt rookies Madlenya. This is Mbabane Swallows tagline in the New Year, as they want to collect all maximum points in the games they play and have also made a declaration that whoever took points from them in the first round must ring them back now.
Umkhonto KaShaka grouped all their games into four and made it a promise that in the matches they wanted nothing but 12 points and in the first bundle they were able to achieve their goal.
The red and white capital city giants are in rich form, as they are fresh from demolishing other rookies, Seven Dreams 4-0 this past weekend, where MTN Premier League current top scorer Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst scored a brace.
The Caleb Ngwenya-led side are looking to record a double over Madlenya, whom they beat by a lone goal in the first round early this year.
They are yet to taste defeat in the New Year, as they last lost on December 17, 2022 against city rivals Mbabane Highlanders at Mavuso Sports Centre. They were beaten 2-1 on that day.
On paper, Swallows are a better side to come out with the three points after the 90 minutes, but they are facing an unpredictable Madlenya side, which were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Highlanders this past Sunday at Mayaluka in a game they 1st round MTN Premier League (28/01/2023): Madlenya 0-1 M. Swallows
Felix Badenhorst, Sandile Newman Philiso (M.
Sethu Ngcamphalala, Gamedze, Thabiso (Madlenya)
Hlatjwako, Swallows)
Lucky Dlamini
could also have won.
Umkhonto KaShaka will be expected to welcome back Sizolwethu Shabalala after a long lay-off due to an operation. The Lubombo-based outfit have a galaxy of stars including national team call-ups in enterprising winger Sethu Ngcamphalala and defender Lucky Gamedze.
The rookies are currently on a rough patch since the departure of Njabulo Maziya, who was scoring goals week in and week out for the William ‘Baggio’ Gamedze-led assemble.
Their confidence is high after winning their game against Manzini Sea Birds which was played for 45 minutes after it was called off about a month ago having played the first half. This was after Sea Birds decided not to continue with play as there was no ambulance in the venue (KaLanga Technical Centre).
The teams come to this Week 18 round of games with Swallows occupying the fourth spot with 34 points tied with Highlanders, but the latter is on position three on the headto-head rule, while Madlenya is on position eight with 22 points in 17 games.