GU enjoy being at the summit
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday December 12, 2022 16:00
They showed no signs of pressure as they beat Nico United 4-0 in a Botswana Premier League (BPL) tie played at the Royal Aria Stadium.
It was the Reds' sixth win of the campaign as they remain unbeaten in the opening seven games.
Speaking after the victory, GU assistant coach, Pontsho Moloi said his side is aware of the pressure of staying at the summit of the log standings and it can only come as motivation to his troops. “Staying at the top comes with a bit of pressure but we are used to it. It is nothing new. This is a game of pressure. If you do not enjoy the pressure then you are in the wrong field.
We are okay and we know what to do with it. We play forward, we play to win games. From the start we play to go forward, put pressure on the opponents and dominate our games,” Moloi said.
The Reds were on the lead just 17 minutes into the tie as Tshepo Malgas beat the goalkeeper to the far post with his second of the campaign. From the goal, GU dominated the scenes as the opposition struggled to have some possession of the ball. Despite the early goal and the dominance, GU were let down by the decision making in the final third.
This was until the 40th minute when Mpho Kgaswane made it 2-0 for his side. The skipper broke with pace and played a quick one-two passes with Onkabetse Makgantai and slotted the ball into the far post.
GU took a 2-0 lead into the break. Nine minutes into the second half, Makgantai had a go at goal from outside the box but the goalkeeper was up to the task. Three minutes later, Botsile Kebaikanye shot wide off the post for the visitors. Just after the hour mark, Thatayaone Kgamanyane lobbed the ball for unmarked Makgantai, but he headed wide off the goal.
The Reds were 3-0 up on the 75th minute as Kgosietsile Mapena headed into his own net from Alphord Velaphi’s cross. Three minutes to full time, the Reds made it 4-0 with a ‘goal from the bench’. Ronel Manyanga laid to Thero Setsile who tucked in from close range to put the final nail on Majombolo's coffin. “We lost to a good side with a lot of experience in them. We allowed them to dictate the pace and we conceded a very early goal. We tried to settle the nerves but we conceded the second goal. We failed to defend and we failed the defensive basics. We wanted to hit them on the counter but unfortunately the strategy did not work,” Nico's head coach, Philani Mabena said.
The Teams:
GU: Goitseone Phoko, Alphord Velaphi, Kennedy Amutenya, Tshepo Maikano, Mothusi Johnson, Duncan Otieno, Lebogang Ditsele (Ronel Manyanga), Mpho Kgaswane (Mothusi Cooper), Thatayaone Kgamanyane, Tshepo Malgas (Thero Setsile), Onkabetse Makgantai (Obonwe Maome)
Nico: Moraka Tauyatswala, Gothusang Osego, Thabo Mosielele, Seabe Toteng, Stephane Mothwale, Kelvin Ndebele (Johnson Kepaletswe), Tshepiso Matshuba, Botsile Kebaikanye, Kgosietsile Mapena, Motshwari Goitseone (Bokamoso Mosima), Tinashe Chinyani Cautions: Amutenya, Otieno
GU 4 (Malgas 17th, Kgaswane 40th, Mapena o.g 75th, Setsile 87th) Nico United 0