Fighters, Police XI produce four-goal thriller

Larona Makhaiza | Monday November 14, 2022 16:00

The Brazilians lost their first two games in the league prior to the weekend's encounter against The Jungle Kings.

The game started on a low pace with the two teams still trying to adapt to the wet and slippery pitch after the Friday and Saturday morning rains.

The game was evenly contested until Fighters nearly found the back of the net from a corner kick on the 10th minute after Police XI's goalkeeper, Lesego Bosekeng failed to read the movement of the ball and missed it completely.

Fortunately for him, his defence dealt with it swiftly. Police moved the ball around brilliantly with their midfield starting to boss the midfield. They launched an attack and before their striker, Pako Gaofose could take a shot at the goalkeeper, he was brought down by the Fighters defence and Police were awarded a freekick.

The breakthrough for Police came from the very same freekick after goalkeeper, Tshomarelo More failed to parry the ball away and it got in the way of Gaofose who capitalised on the opportunity and put it into the back of the net. It was not long before Fighters found an equaliser after Kakanyo Kethubile hit a brilliant volley to put his team back on level terms.

Fighters applied pressure searching for a lead goal and they caught the Police defence napping. Emmanuel Ditodi converted easily to give his side the lead for the first time in the game. The two teams went to the break with Fighters leading Police by 2 goals to 1. In the second half, Gaofose nearly brought his side on level terms but he missed the target from close range.

On the 70th minute, Police found its equaliser moments after Chicco Molefe hit the woodwork but the ball got back into play and Tonderai Nyakuba headed into an empty net to rescue a point for his side.

In a post match interview, Police XI head coach, Maitumelo Letlamoreng revealed that what they had planned for did not go according to plan and put the blame on players. “Obviously the approach and attitude from the players can sometimes destroy the play and the way we started we gave away the game. We conceded two silly goals we should have not conceded,” Letlamoreng said.

Fighters head coach Ofentse Mapeu was left elated after getting the first goals and first point of the season. “We are going game by game and if you look at the past two games, we did not score a goal which was a concern and we lost all those games. But coming into this game, our mandate was to score a goal and a point after a disappointing start to the season," Mapeu said.

The teams:

Police XI: Lesego Bosekeng, Larona Modisaemang, Chicco Molefe, Letsweletse Leririma, Tonderai Nyakuba, Betsho Pius, Botshelo Mangena, Karabo Kelathilwe (Neville Mushe), Pako Gaofose, Thabiso Boti, Mokgweetsi Moroka (Ogomoditswe Sitang)

Fighters: Tshomarelo More, Thato Mosweunyane, Samson Ramoka, Phenyo Lebopo, Oweditse Tuelo, Musa Tamokate, Onkemetse Gasemotho, Kakanyo Kethubile, Thuso Keraetswe (Morapedi Kengaletswe), Emmanuel Ditodi (Botsetswe Otshegile), Thabang Sendu (Kubulani Madziba)

Police XI 2 (Pako Gaofose 18th, Tonderai Nyakuba 70th) Fighters 2 (Kakanyo Kethubile 28th, Emmanuel Ditodi 37th)