Sankoyo Hold Wasteful TAFIC
Chakalisa Dube | Monday January 17, 2022 16:00
Even the mood at the match seemed to suggest that Matjimenyenga diehards are increasingly becoming impatient with the team's failure to gain momentum in order to push for promotion to the elite league. The only positive for TAFIC on Saturday was that the team had fielded several teenagers who showed so much promise.
Among the teenagers was 17-year-old right winger, Allen Nyandoro who was a thorn in the visitors' defence until he was substituted midway through the second half. Left back Shaun Phillips, who is aged 19-years also impressed on his debut.
TAFIC were the better side in the opening stanza of the match and had their first notable scoring chance in the 19th minute when forward Mogomotsi Samson was set up by Michael Murirwa but the former hit the side netting. It was a less eventful day for the former ECCO City Green striker as he squandered several opportunities on the day. Eleven minutes later, Murirwa had his well taken shot acrobatically dealt with by Sankoyo goalie Bothata Phakedi. Murirwa had made his way past the defence on the left side of the pitch.
The last 15 minutes of the second half were entirely marred by rain. Sankoyo were denied a surprise lead three minutes from the break. Winger Nlisa Dema’s brilliant effort from range was parried away by TAFIC goalkeeper, Thatayaone Thandazela who had little to do in the first half. Seconds later, Nyandoro’s well taken header went inches wide after he connected with a neat cross from the left.
The hosts still dominated the game after the break and could have grabbed the lead in the 55th minute after Samson was released from the middle but his effort was cleverly blocked by an advancing Phakedi. In the 71st minute, defender Remoneilwe Masia came to the rescue of Sankoyo with a goal line clearance after Samson looped the ball over the keeper.
Sankoyo’s best chance in the second half came in the 81st minute when Dema made his way past Motseothata Elijah but the latter brought him down. Elijah was given his marching orders from the resultant incident because he denied the visitors a clear goal scoring opportunity. The visitors still struggled to assert themselves despite having numerical advantage over TAFIC.
Phakedi pulled another brilliant save in the 90th after forward Montsi Dichaba had tricked his way past the defence before unleashing a very powerful shot from the edge of the goal area. TAFIC have now accumulated six points from five matches while Sankoyo have collected four points from five matches.
The teams:
TAFIC: Thandazela, Oabokoloka Mugibelo, Nenguba Chakalisa, Elijah, Godfrey Seabelo, Nyandoro (Aobakwe Mugibelo), Dichaba, Saul Chamunika Jr Chamunika
Sankoyo: Phakedi, Mompoloki Ntlotlang, Masia, Thato Salepito, Tshepang Mbambo, Kefemetswe Sakasongo, Oamogotse Kelediretse, Keabetswe Tiego, Dema, Nawa, Poloko Modisane
TAFIC 0 Sankoyo 0