The Beautiful Birds are unstoppable and it is not funny to their fellow Absa Premiership clubs.
Swallows are among early contenders for the league title, thanks to their feisty start to the campaign.
On Friday night they proved their championship credentials by hammering pretenders Ajax Cape Town 3-2 at Dobsonville Stadium.
Siyabonga Nomvethe, once again, proved his mettle when he struck twice and Giorgi Nergadze scored another goal for the home side, while Khama Billiat and substitute Brent Carelse netted for the visitors.
"Swallows played organised and quality football," Ajax coach Maarten Stekelengburg admitted, but also lamented his charges' failure to convert chances into goals.
But the Dutchman praised the players for their second-half resurgence. "They showed mental strength in the second half."
Swallows' coach Gordon Igesund was not entirely impressed with their second-half display.
"We lost concentration in the second half and allowed Ajax to take control of the game. But it was a good game for us and credit to the players," Igesund said.
The decorated Swallows' trainer is not talking about winning the championship despite their plucky start.
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| Siyabonga Nomvethe |
"It will be good for us to finish within the top-eight," he said.
The win catapulted the Birds to the summit of the Premiership table amid chirpy noises from their few but proud loyalists.
* Their stay in the driver's seat, though, was temporary after three-time league champions SuperSport United regained their top spot, thanks to a 1-0 win over Roger de Sa's Bidvest Wits at Milpark Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The goal by Kermit Erasmus came late in the match.
Gavin Hunt's Matsatsantsa now lead the standings with 21 points, followed by Kaizer Chiefs and Swallows both on 19.
* Amakhosi are ahead of the Birds, thanks to their superior goal difference.
Vladimir Vermezovic and his charges shrugged off off-pitch shenanigans with a 1-0 win over Platinum Stars in Polokwane on Saturday night.
Lucky Baloyi scored the decider, his second goal of the season at the same venue.
His first was against Black Leopards on October 16.
Vermezovic said the win belonged to his players and went on to acknowledge his former captain Jimmy Tau for a good display.
Stars mentor Owen da Gama praised his charges for a second-round recovery, but complained about the lack of protection they received from match officials.
* Elsewhere, goals by Kennedy Mweene, Mzikayise Mashaba and Katlego Mashego sealed three points for Steve Komphela's Free State Stars as they beat Lamontville Golden Arrows 3-1 at Goble Park Stadium in another match on Saturday.
Former Chiefs midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi pulled one back for United as The Team of Choice succumbed to a 2-1 loss to The People's Team at Athlone Stadium.
Source -Sowetanlive.co.za
