Swallows coach warns rivals

SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 09: Moroka Swallows coach Jose Marques celebrating their victory against Pirates during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows at Orlando Stadium on August 09, 2014 in Soweto, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images)

SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 09: Moroka Swallows coach Jose Marques celebrating their victory against Pirates during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows at Orlando Stadium on August 09, 2014 in Soweto, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images)

Published Aug 14, 2014

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Johannesburg – Moroka Swallows coach Zeca Marques has warned Premiership clubs to write off his team at their own peril.

The Dube Birds had a perfect start to their Premiership campaign with a 2-1 victory over AmaZulu at Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday.

Goals from defender Luvhengo Mungomeni and midfield ace Lerato Chabangu secured maximum points for the side, with Goodman Dlamini scoring the solitary goal for the opposition.

“We are used to being underestimated and we will prove many people wrong,” Marques said afterwards.

“People can expect more from my team and as I've said before, watch this space. I have a great bunch of guys who I have complete faith in.”

Chabangu once again was the saviour as he came off the bench to score the winning goal, having done the same against old foes Orlando Pirates four days earlier.

Marques said the ploy of starting the Bafana Bafana international on the bench and turning him into a “super-sub” was a tactical move.

“Lerato has been doing brilliantly for us from the bench. It's just part of the game plan and we are extremely pleased that it has worked out well for us.”

And for the time being, with the cunning plan having worked wonderfully for the club, Marques was not immediately tempted to throw Chabangu into the starting line-up.

“I think going forward we will stick with the way we have been approaching games. It gives us another dimension and allows us to shift into another gear in the middle of a game.”

The victory made it two wins out of two for the Soweto club, having beaten the Buccaneers by the same score-line in their opening encounter of the season.

Swallows have had contrasting fortunes in the previous three years, with the club going from finishing with the second best league record in 2011/12, to one fighting off relegation in 2013/14.

The entertaining clash against AmaZulu gave the fans in Soweto value for money as both teams looked to play an unabated attacking style.

In the end there could have been more goals, but as has become customary, poor decision-making and a lack of edge in front of goal kept it down to three goals.

AmaZulu marksman Bongani Ndulula was kept quiet for most of the first half having been frustratingly deprived of a sight at goal.

His team-mate Philane Shange had the team's best goal-scoring attempt half-an-hour into the game via a free-kick from range.

However, as was the theme of the Durban club's evening, scoring opportunities were not finding the back of the net.

While AmaZulu were struggling to find their feet, Swallows had a number of good looks at goal, one of which fell to winger Dikgang Mabalane, whose powerful strike forced the opposition goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini into a spectacular save. – Sapa

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