SOCCER – MBABANE Highlanders AM FC head coach Flody Mogale has called for deep self-introspection after his side suffered a demoralising 0-2 defeat to Royal Leopard at Mayaluka Stadium on Saturday.
Malangeni Dlamini’s first-half brace broke the hearts of the home supporters as Royal Leopard secured maximum points against the hosts.
Speaking after the match, a visibly disappointed Mogale admitted that his players were below par throughout the encounter, adding that the team needed to establish the root cause of their poor performance.
“It was not our day. Nothing was coming out right. In fact, we were flat throughout the match. We need to investigate deeper and find the root cause because this was not a difficult match,” he said.
The South African-born coach explained that Highlanders had planned to counter Royal Leopard’s long-ball approach but failed to execute their strategy.
“We knew they would come and play those long balls. Unfortunately, we did not have the legs today and nothing was coming right. Defensively, we were careless.
“However, we still have a long way to go and we know our supporters are not happy after this defeat. We need to pick ourselves up ahead of our next away match against Nsingizini,” he said.
Meanwhile, Royal Leopard coach Edwin Matsebula praised his players for securing all three points, highlighting their tactical discipline in limiting Highlanders’ influence in midfield.
“We didn’t want to give them room to play in midfield. We knew they always pass the ball around, especially in their own half.
“Getting three points against Mbabane Highlanders is a good feeling because these are the kind of games you have to win if you want to contest for the league title,” he said.
Matsebula also singled out forwards Hleliso Gamedze and Malangeni Dlamini for praise, commending their movement and attacking threat.
“They are good players who have quick movements. However, there is still a long way to go,” he said.
The victory lifted Royal Leopard to the top of the standings with seven points. The police side will next face struggling Celtics while Mbabane Highlanders travel to King Sobhuza II Stadium to take on Nsingizini Hotspurs.
| Fixture & Venue | Result | Key Goalscorers / Standouts | Next Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Leopard (Away) |
2 | Malangeni Dlamini (1st-half brace); Hleliso Gamedze praised for sharp forward runs. | vs Celtics (Top of log with 7 pts) |
| Mbabane Highlanders AM (Home – Mayaluka Stadium) |
0 | Failed to execute counter-strategy; midfield stifled; defensive lapses cited. | vs Nsingizini Hotspurs (King Sobhuza II Stadium) |
Match outcome and post-derby outlook from the Mayaluka Stadium showdown.
