By Chris Dlamini
For the second time in three weeks, veteran star Nathi Hleta was humbled by an unexpected rival over the weekend.
Hleta suffered a narrow 7-6 defeat at the hands of bottom-of-the-table Mphile Ntjalintjali. This saw the winner record his second win after nine matches.
The giant-killing feat follows another surprise win on the previous weekend where lowly-placed Mandla Lushaba defeated leading and decorated Sithembiso ‘Dodge’ Matsebula while Hleta had already been stunned three weeks ago by Sandile ‘Smongo’ Mamba with a 7-6 win.
The results area testament to how the league is becoming competitive game by game,” said one of the players, Dodge. On another note, Welcome ‘Thupy’ Mthupha humbled Mamba with a 7-6 win.
It did end there for the Give Thanks Seniors/Masters champion as it turned out a bad weekend for him. He went on to lose 7-5 to Dodge and Sandile ‘Theo’ Motsa, who edged him 7-6. Meanwhile, after a positive start, Simanga ‘Tinyawo’ Dlamini is finding the going tough after a 7-2 bonus point defeat to Mbongiseni ‘Squared’ Ntjalintjali.
Other players who recorded much-needed wins based on the log standings were Bongani Mohammed, Mncedisi Mweli, Mike Gobeze, and Bandzile Mamba.
Selected Results:
Qhawe 6-7 Mncedisi
Sandile Motsa 7-2 John
Nathi Hleta 6-7
Nkosingiphile
Bandzile 7-3 Ganja
Ngula 7-6 Theo
Mohammed 7-6 Bandzile
Squared 7-4 Mike
Squared 7-2 Tinyawo
Theo 6-7 Nathi
Ngula 7-3 Nkosingiphile
Dodge 7-5 Sandile
Theo 7-6 Sandile
Qhawe 7-5 John
Mncedisi 7-6 Mike
Mike 7-6 Ganja
Mike 7-3 Mohammed
Owen 7-4 Mohammed
Welcome 7-3 Owen
Squared 5-7 Theo
Welcome 7-6 Sandile