The bad news is that sturdy Moroka Swallows’ Namibian international central defender George Hummel is recovering from surgery incurred on a fractured tibia in December and will be out of soccer until mid-April.
Hummel, making an unexpected appearance in the Premier League game against Golden Arrows at the Germiston Stadium on Saturday afternoon, scored the solitary goal of the match with a spectacular diving header in the 10th minute.
The 1-0 win, however, was not entirely to the satisfaction of Swallows coach Gavin Hunt, who complained that opportunities to have recorded half-a-dozen goals had been squandered.
”The players are giving 100% and I’m confident of a top three finish at the end of the championship race,” said Hunt, ”but to take the one decisive step forward and aim higher we simply cannot go on missing the chances we have all season.”
Arrows, who had beaten Kaizer Chiefs in both a Premier League and Absa Cup game during the past three weeks, reserved their most incisive soccer for the final 20 minutes in the oppressive heat.
It was a scintillating 78th minute save by Nigerian international Greg Etafia in the Swallows’ goal that thwarted the ever-probing Mabhudi Khanyeza from equalising.
A minute later the Birds had another scare when an awkwardly-bouncing shot was deflected onto the post by Etafia. – Sapa