Africa-Press – Eswatini. Highlanders ……… (0)0
Royal AM………… (0)0
Leopard………….(1)3
Senzelwe, Junior, Sithole
CFFA…………….(0)2
AS the CAF season got underway, Eswatini sides Royal Leopard and Mbabane Highlanders got off to a bright start in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.
While Leopard recorded an emphatic 3-2 win away in Antananarivo against Centre de Formation de Football Andoharanofosty, simply known as CFFA, a wasteful Highlanders became the first side to play at the Somhlolo National Stadium in over two years in a goalless draw with South Africa’s Royal AM.
The last time an official football game was played here was in March 2020 during the finals of the Ingwenyama Cup, where, ironically, Highlanders were in action against eventual champions Green Mamba.
This was days before the first case of coronavirus was reported in the kingdom.
For Highlanders, a goalless draw is better than a score draw as away goals become a big factor in such tournaments ahead of the return game in Durban on Friday.
Highlanders could have wrapped this tie in this very same first leg played under a blazing hot afternoon here.
They were wasteful and dearly missed goal machine Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa.
In the opening 15 minutes, the hosts got two glorious opportunities to punish the DStv Premiership side.
After 11 minutes, Kenneth Moloto broke free to come face to face with goalkeeper Hugo Nyame only for his shot to ricochet against the upright with Highlanders faithful already on their feet.
Josef Lekata failed to get into the end of a low Philani Mkhonto cross with the goal beckoning two minutes later.
It was another Royal AM escape to add on Philani’s fifth minute shot that missed Nyame’s right hand upright by a whisker.
Halfway through the firststanza, Royal AM had a rare as a hen’s tooth sneak at goal but Sibonelo Boyce shot wide of Khanyakwezwe Shabalala’s near post.
Experienced
With the match goalless at the breather, Royal AM finally came out of their shells following the introduction of the experienced Elias Pelembe and Motabeng Sera at resumption.
The ‘Black Bull’ absorbed the pressure, limiting the visitors only to half chances mainly from set pieces as the match ended goalless.
Across the Indian Ocean in Madagascar, Leopard coach Edwin Matsebula named new signees Senzelwe ‘Vardy’ Dlamini and Simanga Masangane, both from Vovovo in his starting eleven while goalkeeper Mlamuli Makhanya was given the nod ahead of Ncamiso ‘Mbhonyo’ Dlamini between the sticks.
A goalless first half led to a five-goal thriller in the last stanza with debutant Senzelwe breaking the deadlock a minute after resumption.
Midway through the second half, midfield maestro Junior Magagula doubled the MTN Premier League champions’ lead while Menzi Sithole gave Leopard the advantage they needed after coming on from the substitutes bench.
The team’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frank Hurube, said the team is expected back home on Wednesday in time for the second leg clash which will be played on Saturday at the Somhlolo National Stadium in a 3pm kick-off.
TEAMS
Highlanders: Khanyakwezwe Shabalala, Vusi Vilakati, Delisa Gama, Peter Dlamini, Aristo Tamuzi (Melusi Magagula), ‘Stiga’ Ndzabandzaba, Tony Machacha, Tshwarelo Bereng, Josef Lekata (‘Rio’ Matsenjwa), Philani Mkhonto, Kenneth Moloto
Leopard: Mlamuli Makhanya, Mlamuli Msibi, Silhumbuzo Magagula, Simanga Masangane, Thami Zulu, Sifiso Matse, Mzwandile Mabelesa, Lungelo Tsabedze ,Senzelwe Dlamini, Junior Magagula, Muzi Dlamini
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