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JOBE’S LAST-GASP STRIKE KEEPS LEOPARD UNBEATEN

By Mgcini Dube | 2025-02-03

Royal Leopard …………………. (0)2
Mbabane Highlanders ………… (1)1
Soccer - Royal Leopard’s towering defender Gift ‘Jobe’ Gamedze emerged as the hero with a dramatic last-minute winner, securing all three points for his side and extending their unbeaten run in the MTN Premier League to 14 matches.

Played under scorching conditions at Mkhuzweni Technical Centre, the match saw the police side stage a thrilling comeback to edge a wasteful Mbabane Highlanders 2-1.

The victory keeps Leopard firmly at the summit of the MTN Premier League table, having already pocketed the lucrative E100 000 first-round incentive.

Leopard came out with intent, dominating the opening minutes and pressing Highlanders high in search of an early breakthrough.

However, their finishing let them down. The Black Bull, after weathering the early storm, found their rhythm and started moving the ball around confidently.

Siyabonga Mkhonto was a constant menace, troubling the Leopard defence. Highlanders thought they had taken the lead when a glancing header found the back of the net, but the assistant referee’s flag was up for offside, much to the frustration of the capital city giants.

Edwin Matsebula’s men continued to push forward, but Highlanders’ defence stood firm, protecting their goalkeeper. In first-half stoppage time, Mkhonto finally broke the deadlock with a thunderous strike from outside the box that left Leopard shot-stopper Mlamuli Makhanya sprawled helplessly on the turf. Highlanders took their slender 1-0 lead into the halftime break.

The second half saw a transformed Leopard side, pinning Highlanders back into their own half.
Sensing the need for fresh legs, coach Matsebula introduced the lively duo of Fanelo and Lungelo Tsabedze, who injected more attacking firepower into the police side.

Just 10 minutes into the second half, Lungelo thought he had equalised, but his goal was ruled out for handball before he took the shot. Highlanders had chances to extend their lead, with Mphilolenhle ‘Loshy’ Khumalo failing to hit the target and Mkhonto arriving late on a well-delivered cross from Sibahle Sukati.

With time running out, Leopard’s persistence paid off in the 84th minute when second-half substitute Banele ‘Neymar’ Shongwe pounced on a fumbled clearance from Highlanders goalkeeper Qiniso Nyawo to level the score.

The police side kept pushing for a winner, and in the 94th minute, ‘Jobe’ delivered the decisive blow with a close-range finish that sparked furious protests from Highlanders players, who claimed he was offside.

The controversy led to Highlanders’ Ndumiso Mabuza receiving a straight red card after aggressively confronting the assistant referee. Even after the final whistle, tempers flared as frustrated Highlanders supporters clashed with their Leopard counterparts, forcing the police to intervene and restore order.

For Royal Leopard, it was another statement victory, proving why they remain the team to beat this season. For Highlanders, it was a case of missed chances and frustrations, as they were left ruing what could have been.

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