How Mbombela won the League last season.
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Mbombela United opened the season with a 3 – 1 win over last season's CHAMPIONS Batau FC in the home of soccer, KaNyamazane Stadium on the 13th of October last year. The following week, Tingwenyama travelled to Botleng stadium where they undisputedly swallowed [former Mighy Mega Force] Witbank based Kwazi FC by a solid 2- 0 win. Batau's sister team, Mankete FC, visited the Nelspruit giants at KaNyamazane just before it was closed for AFCON's preparations. They were determined to avenge their counterpart's loss but little did they know that there was nothing to stop Tingwenyama’s dream in their road to glory. little Mankete was sent packing with a whopping 2 – 0 defeat, Mbombela's third win of the season.


After a week ‘off’ the league in persuit of the Nedbank Tournament qualification at Agricultural College where they dismissed Baberton Citys Stars and Apollo FC, Tingwenyama then travelled to Witbank for a goal shopping spree against Mhluzi Black Rangers. Mhluzi residents were left with no option but to cheer for Tingwenyama''s drizzling skills as they went on to score 5 immaculate goals. The following week, Mbombela United hosted Driekopies based Phiva Young Stars at The Lowveld Agricultural Stadium, Tingwenyama's practicing ground. The two teams sweated to a 1 all draw in a match that housed close to 5000 soccer fans.

 

Still filled with anger of sharing points with one of their closest rival, Tingwenyama travelled to Baberton Prison Stadium were they thrashed Baberton City Stars 3 – 1 on the 1st of December; Thus upsetting the Umjindi fans who resorted to throwing missiles into the pitch forcing the assistant referee to flee away from the touchline in fear of his life. Still unstoppable, Mbombela United's soccer stars together with their legion of fans travelled all the way to Lynville Stadium for a midweek encounter against Lynville All Stars on the 12th of December. Innocent Zulu, Inky Masuku and captain Mfanimpela ‘Mphela’ Maseko provided three classic goals that gave Tingwenyama a 3 – 2 win. A week before Christmas, another Ermelo based side, Sekhukhune Lions came all out in bid to do what its counterparts (Batau and Mankete) had failed to do; beating Mbombela. Tingwenyama proved that there were the vicious lions of the two by winning 2- 1.

 

Just after the festive break, Mbombela was back to fulfill their mission by another 2 – 1 win over Standerton based newcomers Young Highlanders before dismantling another strong contender, Amazayoni FC with a 1- 0 win in Agricultural College curtesy of Inky Masuku’s solitary goal from the penalty spot. With the Nedbank tournament at hand, Tingwenyama boys traveled towards the Kruger for another conquest for maximum points against log basement residence Calcuta FC. Defender, Ntokozo's powerful header saw the boys coming back with a 1 – 0. With the air saturated with the lucrative Nedbank Tournament fever, Tingwenyama was held to a goalless draw by relegation candidate God Chosen before being held again to a 1 all draw by Apollo FC in Kabokweni a week before the Nedbank tournament's last 32 kickoffs.

 

With new signings on the deck, Mbombela was knocked out of the tournament by a humiliating 4 – 1 defeat from NFD outfit Vasco Da Gama. A week later, while nursing the wounds of humiliation, the boys were back to business with an invincible 4 – 0 win over Kwazi FC on the 2nd of March; 1- 0 win against Mankete FC on the 10th of March in Ermelo Stadium; 4 – 2 win against Mhluzi Black Rangers in Kanyamazane and 2 – 1 win against Phiva Young Stars in a fully packed Driekoppies Stadium.

 

With the league championship in their sight, the boys were hosted by F.C Benfica in the turfed Thulamahashe Stadium. Despite playing the entire match with just 10 men after Lucky 'Vum-Vum' Sgudla was redcarded in the 8th minute, the boys came back home with a 4 – 0 win. A week later, Mbombela was on another home goal shopping show when they beat Lynville All Stars 4 – 1 in Kanyamazane Stadium on the 13th of April before defeating Sikhukhune Lions 1- 0 in Ermelo before drawing 0 – 0 with Batau again in Ermelo followed by a 2 – 1 win in Standerton against Young Highlanders.

Mp Highlanders were defeated 2 – 1 in back to back matches both in Thulamahashe and Kanyamazane stadium before Mbombela travelled to Witbank for their last away match against Amazayoni FC which they won 3 - 2. In winding up the season, Tingwenyama defeated Calcuta FC 2 – 1, God Chosen 4 – 0, Apollo FC 2 – 0 and finally on the 2nd of June, 2 – 0 against Baberton City Stars.

 

In 30 matches, Mbombela United Scored 69 goals and conceded 18 goals. They won 26 games and drew 4 games.