Nomvethe the key for Birds
WHEN he secured Moroka Swallows a stay of execution with yet another goal that delivered a crucial three points in their seasonending match – a 1-0 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic – Siyabonga Nomvethe was doing something that comes naturally.
Helping teams succeed is all Nomvethe knows, the striker from KwaMashu having done so since turning professional with African Wanderers in 1997.
Of course, such was Abaqulusi’s nature as local football’s yo-yo team that even with his massive talent Nomvethe couldn’t help them stay up – being snatched up as he was by Kaizer Chiefs almost immediately after making an impression in the elite league.
And even when he played in Italy for lowly Udinese, Nomvethe’s star always shone amid mediocrity.
It has been the same at Swallows, where season after season he has performed admirably despite the team being generally disappointing.
It was due to his goals that the Birds came oh so close to winning the championship four seasons ago. Swallows finished second, behind the Buccaneers in a race that went all the way to the final day of the season.
Swallows will once again look to “Bhele” to deliver the goods as they seek to avoid relegation via the play-offs. And tonight they begin that quest when they host a Black Leopards side that has already chalked up three points from a 2-0 victory over Jomo Cosmos.
Swallows welcome a Leopards outfit coached by their former coach Zeca Marques, who should know Nomvethe very
PLAY-OFF FIXTURES
well, having worked with him for no less than two seasons.
But whatever tricks Marques comes up to keep the veteran striker on a leash, there is always a chance Nomvethe will come out trumps.
He has been doing it for many seasons, the former South African Footballer of the Year outrunning, outplaying and outscoring many a player much younger than him. At 38 years old he should be considering retirement – with many players hanging up their boots when much younger.
But the man who represented South Africa at both the Olympics and the World Cup is still going strong, and a fortnight ago, after he kept Swallows’ hope of survival in the elite league alive, he spoke of how he will still be around next season.
Many will hope it is in the PSL. For that to happen, though, Swallows will have to be top of the three-team table come June 3 when the play-offs come to an end.
Against teams as lethal up front as Leopards and Cosmos in the National First Division it will take some doing, especially given Swallows’ pathetic defending, which largely contributed to their finishing second from the bottom in the Premiership.
But with Nomvethe in their aviary, the Birds can always rest assured that the goals will come.
All they need do, especially tonight, is to make sure that the dangerous Roggert Nyundu, in particular, is starved of possession.
Swallows will be pleased to know that Leopards’ other goal-getter, young Siphelele Ntshangase, is unavailable due to suspension – the midfielder having earned a fourth booking in the victory over Cosmos, in which he scored the opening goal. Still, it is going to take some work for Swallows to retain their Premiership status, and Nomvethe will be key to them doing so.