By Sibusiso Masilela
Like a proverbial phoenix, capital city giants Mbabane Swallows have risen from this week’s ashes to fly into the Last 16 of the SMVAF Ingwenyama Cup, with an emphatic 3-0 win over Lozitha Spurs at Somhlolo National Stadium on Sunday.
The ‘Beautiful Birds’ needed goals from Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst, Siphosethu Mabilisa and Siyabonga Zwane to brush aside the National First Division outfit in front of a 3 000 strong crowd at the country’s revamped football Mecca.
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The match was off to a cagey start in the opening 20 minutes, with the minnows piling pressure. Swallows drew the first blood in the 23rd minute through a Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst free-kick from the edge of the box. Lozitha did not cause much threat to the visitors’ defence in the first stanza.
Badenhorst’s strike handed the crowd-pullers a slender lead heading to the breather. In the second stanza, Lozitha came to life as they created the first real chance of the match through Ntokozo Masuku.
Masuku saw his effort miss target by a few inches from a hard attack, causing some slight panic from the Swallows grand-stand.
Swallows then made a triple change midway into the last half by bringing in Sizolwethu ‘Nunu’ Shabalala, Siyabonga Zwane and Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini.
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The master disciplinarian gaffer Caleb Ngwenya was rewarded after the hour-mark when substitute Siyabonga found the second goal with a timely cross that was finished off by full-back Siphosethu Mabilisa.
The marauding Zwane then sealed the win within referee Thembinkosi Dlamini’s added time utilising a sublime finish, much to the delight of the vocal Swallows fans.
The teams:
Lozitha Spurs:
Bhekisisa Sikhondze, Mxolisi Hlongwane, Gift Kwaramba, Sibonginkosi Mavuso, Mthobisi Khumalo, Mcebisi Nhlabatsi, Kwanele Shongwe, Bandile Vilakati, Thandukwazi Ndwandwe, Siphamandla Mamba, Ntokozo Masuku
Swallows:
Sandanezwe Mathabela, Philiso Newman, Siphosethu Mabilisa, Sifiso Mabila, Kingsley Kwaki, Kwakhe Tfwala, Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Sizolwethu Shabalala (Leon Manyisa), NeliswaDlamini (Felix Badenhorst), Sandile Hlatshwako, Ayanda Gadlela (Siyabonga Zwane)
