A match to remember

The football earlier on in the day had been dreadful. Sleep-inducing at best. Then came Royal Leopard and Mbabane Swallows. From the onset, it was clear that this was a match that had a lot riding on it. Of course it was Swallows’ first match since the brutal murder of their boss Victor ‘Maradona’ Gamedze and boy did they have to make a statement.

The ‘Birds’ had honoured their departed boss well, with every player and official donning black armbands in respect of their fallen ‘father.’ The Swallows fans too came in numbers, filling up the right side of the main grandstand to the rafters as well as the North Stand. But the players knew they had to do something more- win the football match. They had to show the watching world that they would remain competitive even after the death of Gamedze.

For a moment in the first half, it looked as though the emotions were getting the better of the Swallows players. Committing unnecessary fouls, especially being very hard on Leopard playmaker Zweli ‘Mlilo’ Nxumalo who was later subbed off, the Birds stars were seemingly playing with their hearts rather than heads in the first stanza.

The two teams went into the break deadlocked. When they emerged for the second half, Leopard drew first blood just 13 minutes in. The ‘Birds’ were stunned but as we have come to know them, they never give up and they never did on Sunday. Enter striker Sandile Hlatjwako. The forward had struggled all afternoon. But such is the beauty of football that a villain can turn into a hero in a matter of seconds.

Hlatjwako levelled matters in the 67th minute. He wasn’t done. With literally seconds remaining, Swallows won a corner and captain Tony Tsabedze took it. He whipped the ball in and a scramble ensured in the box. Hlatjwako emerged. The striker came from nowhere to poke the ball into the back of the net. Leopard keeper Phephisani Msibi tried to keep it out. But it was in.

That goal sparked massive celebrations from the Swallows faithful and as the referee blew the final whistle soon afterwards, the real party began. Led by the effervescent manager Sandile Zwane, the Swallows players went to cheer their supporters at the North Stand before coming back to the supporters in the main stand who were already in song. The players began singing the now well-known song titled, “myekeleni aphumule,” in honour of Gamedze and the supporters soon joined in.

It was moving. It was magical. Even Felix Badenhorst, the mercurial midfielder who rarely shows emotions, was singing and dancing along. Goalkeeper Sandile ‘Nkomishi’ Ginindza was in tears. The celebrations continued even outside the pitch as the Swallows supporters sang and danced around their team’s dressing room. It was as sight to behold. Swallows showed the world on Sunday that their ‘Maradona’ might be gone, but their resilience and fight remains.