Unstoppable Mbabane Swallows completed a remarkable treble after clinching the Swazi MTN league in grand style, thrashing Royal Leopard 3-1 at Somhlolo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The dominant ?Birds?, who have already looted the Ultimate Home Cup back in September, the SwaziBank Cup last Sunday, defended the league they won in extra ordinary circumstances last season in emphatic fashion.
Setting the ball rolling was Sabelo ?Sikhali? Ndzinisa who notched up his 14th goal of the season in the sixth minute when he turned and twisted Leopard defender Jerome Ndlangamandla before firing a low shot from the near post beating Leopard goalkeeper Mphikeleli Dlamini hands down.
Leopard defender Dennis Fakudze had a poor clearance which Ndzinisa capitalized on to send the Swallows faithful into raptures.
Leopard equalized three minutes into the second half when winger Zweli Nxumalo curled a free-kick beyond the desperate hands of goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura.
Leopard defender Siboniso Malambe thought he had put his team ahead in the 57th minute when his dipping shot was miraculously cleared off the line by Swallows workaholic midfielder Njabulo Ndlovu.
But Swallows, like they have done all season, dug deep into their reserves of courage, and from a free-kick awarded after Leopard defender Dennis Fakudze fouled Tony ?TT? Tsabedze from the edge of the box in the 74th minute.
Tsabedze rose up and delivered a gift-wrapped cross which striker Mfanafuthi ?Taribo? Bhembe headed in powerfully past goalkeeper Mphikeleli Dlamini.
Leopard were dealt a heavy blow in the 81st minute when goalkeeper Mphikeleli Dlamini was sent off by referee Mbongiseni Fakudze for a two-footed challenge on striker Sabelo Ndzinisa who is suspected to have fractured his ankle from the hospital tackle.
Reserve goalkeeper Ncamiso Dlamini came in but he could not stop goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura scoring his third goal of the season from the resultant penalty.
?Taribo? Bhembe ought to have made it 4-1 but after breaking free, coming face to face with the goalkeeper, his meek shot was bravely blocked by Ncamiso Dlamini.
It mattered not as the ?Birds? defended their league crown in emphatic fashion and will bank E670 000 just a week after clinching E700 000 from the SwaziBank Cup and in the process completing their first treble in the club?s 65 chequered history.
