Fighters vow to fight until last whistle
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday April 17, 2023 16:00
On Saturday afternoon Fighters recorded their fourth consecutive defeat in the Botswana Premier League (BPL) and have not registered a single victory in the last 10 games.
They went down 2-0 to log leaders, Jwaneng Galaxy in an encounter played at the Molepolole Sports Complex. Despite the team having the second worst league form in the last 10 games, Olebile is adamant that they will fight for survival until the last whistle. “It is unfortunate that we are failing to collect points. But in a football game, it is not over until it is over.
We remain with six games and we will have a breather this time around with the Orange FA Cup. We will play the next league game in two weeks and maybe then we would have found something right in our team.
Obviously, you cannot throw in the towel.
The boys have an experienced coach. I keep motivating them and the difference is just over five points. How can we give up when it is only five points,” Olebile said after the weekend’s defeat.
His side was on the back foot from the first minutes as the visitors sought an early goal. However, Fighters nearly caught their opponents on the break but Botsetswe Othusegile shot just inches wide off the goal on the sixth minute. Three minutes later, Marcel Papama for Galaxy saw his volleyed attempt parried for a corner kick.
The visitors took the lead on the 15th minute as Thabang Sesinyi nodded in Moagi Sechele’s teasing cross into the box. Two minutes later, Thuso Keraetswe for Fighters found a bit of space in front of the area but could not find the target. Galaxy controlled proceedings on the afternoon but were also let down by some poor finishing.
With six minutes to the break, Gaamangwe Sethibe from inside the box headed wide off the post. Galaxy took a slim 1-0 lead into recess. Sethibe nearly got his goal just two minutes into the second half but once again he headed wide off the post. On the 53rd minute, Daniel Msendami dribbled through the defence and beat the goalkeeper to the bottom far corner to make it 2-0 for Galaxy.
The visitors were reduced to 10-men when Lesego Kereedilwe was given his second yellow card and headed for an early shower on the 70th minute. Fighters tried to take advantage and on the 73rd minute Thapelo Babedi, found himself at the end of a good move by the hosts but his effort went wide off the post. Galaxy held on the 2-0 lead to win the maximum points on the day and remain five points clear at the top. “We did what we were supposed to do which is to win a match. When you play a team that had lost by eight goals, it was always going to be difficult. They came here and we expected them to be defensive which they did. I think for them it was a matter of motivation to play against us. But we did what we were supposed to do, to win a match,” Galaxy’s head coach, Morena Ramoreboli said.
The Teams:
Fighters: Onneile Dishito, Samson Ramakoba, Tshepang Mosugelo, Oabona Mangope, Darius Ramere, Botsetswe Othusegile (Thato Maphanyane), Kagiso Mokaeya, Thabang Sendu (Junior Shone), Thuso Keraetswe, Thapelo Babedi (Morapedi Kengaletswe)
Galaxy: Karabo Gaolebale, Moagi Sechele, Lesego Kereedilwe, Fortunate Thulare, Kitso Mangolo, Marcel Papama (Kutlwelo Mpolokang), Nqobizitha Masuku, Gilbert Baruti (Gift Moyo), Thabang Sesinyi (Kitso Mpuisang), Gaamangwe Sethibe (Basiamisi Sebapalo)
Cautions: Mangope, Kereedilwe Dismissal: Kereedilwe
Fighters 0 Galaxy 2 (Sesinyi 15th, Msendami 53rd)