… Peter Dlamini to sit out crunch Green Mamba game because of injury
BY SABELO GWEBU
MBABANE – Heading to the week 19 batch of matches, Mbabane Highlanders find themselves nine points behind their opponents on Sunday, the MTN Premier League log leaders Green Mamba.
However with a possible 24 points to play for in the remaining eight matches, Highlanders Coach Dumisani ‘DU’ Makhanya insists the title race remains wide open. The ‘Black Bull’ is coming from a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Royal Leopard last weekend and is desperate to close the gap on the leading pack.
“Though they are log leaders, it is still a long way to go in as far as the title race is concerned. There are still eight games to play for and no team can say it has a hand on the trophy. If you look closely at the top four teams, we are still going to play together and sort each other out. It is a tough league,” Makhanya said in his pre-match press briefing at Sigwaca House on Friday afternoon.
The former Green Mamba coach said defeat will be unacceptable after suffering defeat in the corresponding first-round fixture.
“How we played last week is immaterial (against Leopard). We have put that result behind us and our focus is on this game. We noted our mistakes against Leopard and it will help us in this game. In terms of preparedness, the players are up to the task and working hard. We have looked at Green Mamba in detail, their strengths and also their weaknesses which I think as a team we are prepared to explore. It is not going to be easy and yes it is a tough game, one of the biggest in the league,” he added.
Highlanders will be without trusted center-back and Sihlangu international because of injury. The two teams will clash head-on in a 3.30 pm kick-off at Mavuso Sports Centre on Sunday.
GR. MAMBA OUT TO GUARD AGAINST COMPLACENCY
… Njabulo Ndlovu poised to make return against Mbabane Highlanders
BY SABELO GWEBU
MBABANE – MTN Premier League table-toppers Green Mamba is guarding against complacency as they prepare to visit Mbabane Highlanders in a titanic clash on Sunday at Mavuso Sports Centre.
The Correctional Services side assistant coach Sandile Lulane said in his pre-match press conference that his side is working on improving with each passing game. Green Mamba are three points clear at the summit of the MTN log standings and look poised to win the ‘Holy Grail’ of local football for the first time since the 2018/19 season under Caleb Ngwenya.
“We are playing a big and ambitious team in the country. Being log leaders does not mean we will allow complacency to come in. Also being on top can make you vulnerable and that is why we put a lot of work in what we do, looking to improve in every game,” Lulane said.
He complimented his players for grasping the technical bench led by Ernest Mavuso’s philosophy perfectly.
“They understand what we want as coaches in every position. The roles we give them, they understand them, and executing can be simple. We can bring any player in a position, and he will do exactly what is needed, probably the qualities may not be the same but they will give us what we want to help the team get results,” he added.
Lulane mentioned that orthodox midfielder Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu is back to full fitness and knocking for a starting place.
“Getting maximum points is important. We do not want to get comfortable at all as I mentioned. Any slip-up, we will find ourselves chasing and we do not want that.”
