The clash was a case of a student returning to haunt his former mentor. Motlakase’s long-term head coach, Pule Mogotsi and goalkeeper coach, Segakolodi Ntime, the duo that fashioned the core of the Chouka, for the first time sat on the opposing bench after crossing to Morupule in the offseason.Although they knew all of the players in the opposite first 11, Mogotsi and his new side were found wanting from the onset.
Motlakase proved to be full of life from the first whistle as under the opening minute they were already knocking on their opponents’ goalpost. A minute into the game, Samuel Makgoro combined well with Itumeleng Mabuaaeme, taking the defender inside the box, but the latter’s shot to the far post went inches from the upright.They continued forcing Morupule on the back foot with constant attacks. In one such invasion, on the ninth minute, Kago Kwena saw his well-connected header towards the top left finger tipped over the bar.Morupule’s first attempt at the other end came in the quarter-hour mark from a long free kick that the Chouka goalkeeper made a mess of, but his defenders were alert to clear the danger.Motlakase’s pressing play hurried Morupule on the ball and the hosts failed to link two passes. They resorted to pumping the balls up front, which Chouka’s defence calmly collected and started their play from the back.On the half-hour mark, Chouka’s dribbling wizard, Mabuaaeme received from the left, and cutting into the box, his attempted shot was handled by a defender and the referee pointed to the spot.
