Scoring a free kick from outside the box didn’t surprise Ruzaigh Gamildien when his team Swallows FC dumped Orlando Pirates out of the MTN8 after they beat them 2-1 at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday evening.
This is so because Gamildien had been practicing taking free kicks at training hoping to use his sharpened skills in a match situation. His skills were required when the Dube Birds got a free kick outside the box and Gamildien sent the ball past Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori.
“All glory goes to the team. We worked very hard. We have a new squad. The coach always told us that we should believe in ourselves. I’m glad we could pull off this big upset and on to the next round,” Gamildien said after winning the man-of-the-match award.
The 32-year-old former Chippa United and AmaZulu attacking midfielder netted a brace during the Pirates clash while Kabelo Dlamini scored for the Buccaneers.
His first goal came from a free kick with his second being a crisp strike from outside the box.
“I have been practicing free kicks at training. I knew we were going to get one in this game and it was gonna go in. The second goal I saw the keeper out of his area and I just had to make sure that I get it on target and it went in,” Gamildien remarked.
The Birds joined Lamontville Golden Arrows in the MTN8 semi-finals after Abafana Bes’thende beat SuperSport United 4-3 on penalties at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, Durban, earlier on Saturday. Arrows’ match against Matsatsantsa a Pitori was decided on penalties after it had ended 2-2 in 120 minutes.
