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OFFICIAL DIES DURING SWALLOWS' DRAW

By SABELO GWEBU | 2021-06-13

Malanti.............. (0)1

Swallows........... (0)1

SOCCER - The Killarney Sports ground ghost was back and it cannot be any painful than this. A Malanti Chiefs official died while celebrating his team’s equalising goal against Mbabane Swallows, in what was a suspected heart failure here in the 82nd of this crunch MTN League encounter.

The official, who works closely with the technical team, analysing from the stands was confirmed dead on the spot by members of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) stationed at the venue. The lack of police vehicles was sadly exposed, with the covered unresponsive body of the official which lay on the right in the stadium despite a four minutes walking distance between the stadium and the Pigg's Peak police station.

A Premier League of Eswatini official offered his car to transport the lifeless body, as a sombre mood was felt way before the second match between Pigg's Peak Black Swallows and Manzini Wanderers in this Y'ello double header dose. It is the second time that Malanti were faced with such a bad scenario after the unfortunate death of their player, Papy Faty two seasons ago at this very same venue.

In what was a lukewarm 90 minutes of football, visitors Swallows had taken the lead a minute before the hour mark through Zimbabwean import James Nguluve. cleverly Leon Manyisa cleverly set up Nguluve with a headed pass for him to unleash a volley that beat Xolani Gama hands down between the Malanti sticks.

Moments after replacing an injured Muhle Shiba, Nkosingiphile Dlamini drew Malanti level, darting on the left side to curl past Sandile 'Nkomishi' Ginindza in the 82nd minute. In that moment of celebrating the equaliser, a crucial goal for Malanti who have the dreaded relegation axe hanging menacingly over them, tragedy struck on the stands. Malanti substitutes who were seated not far away from the deceased were swiftly taken away.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, of course with added time, play continued and Malanti late surge for a winner was overshadowed by the scenes off the field.

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