(At Mavuso Sports Centre)
Nsingizini Hotspurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
Sinenkhosi Dlamini 33rd
Mbabane Swallows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
Siyabonga Zwane 55th
(Nsingizini wins 4-1 after penalties)
Nsingizini Hotspurs President, Derrick Shiba punched the air in sheer unbridled joy as ‘Insingizi YeZulu’ clinched the MoMo Cup for the second consecutive time following a 4-1 penalty win over Mbabane Swallows in a nervy final at Mavuso Sports Centre on Sunday.
Pure joy engulfed the modest stadium as a motley group of Nsingizini Hotspurs fans celebrated like nobody was watching after successfully winning the E2 million sponsored tournament back-to-back, creating a little history of their own in just the second year in the elite league.
Just like it happened on Saturday night in Durban, South Africa in the MTN 8 Cup won by the indefatigable Orlando Pirates Football Club, the tournament was sponsored by the giant Mobile Telecommunications Company, a winner-takes-all and the final decided on penalties.
ALSO READ: Nsingizini breaks ‘Weslians’ hearts
Like Sundowns, Swallows failed to convert the first two penalties with Sizolwethu spotkick saved by goalkeeper Sibusiso Dlamini, veteran striker Felix Badenhorst saw his penalty kick ricochet against the bar, while Nsingizini converted theirs leaving Swallows fans in perpetual agony.
Nsingizini had begun the day with a convincing 3-1 win over last year’s tournament runner, Moneni Pirates and in the final, again they scored first, three minutes after the half-hour mark. Sinenkhosi Dlamini, from an acute angle, finished off with a low shot, beating Swallows goalkeeper Qiniso Nyawo hands down.
Swallows came back strongly in the second half, with substitute Sizolwethu Shabalala and Siyabonga Zwane buzzing on the wings. It came as no surprise when Siyabonga Zwane scored the equalizer five minutes before the hour-mark, finishing with the coolness of a cucumber.
ALSO RAED: PLE pulls plug over E500k debt for broadcast deal
Nsingizini Hotspurs, led by Malawian mentor Charles Manda in the absence of Meck Mwase, stood their ground to force the game to penalties where they emerged victorious, provoking the mother of all celebrations on the pitch and all the way to Hluthi on Sunday night.
