Matebele rub salt into Flamingoes’ wound
Mqondisi Dube | Monday November 13, 2023 16:00
The Premier League rookies carved chance after chance which either went begging or the attackers found Flamingoes goalkeeper, Kenneth Moko, unyielding. Moko, voted man-of-the-match, produced an assortment of goalkeeping heroics to keep his side in the game but the constant Matebele pressure paid off as the home side grabbed the winner five minutes before full time. Flamingoes took a 1-0 lead to the break through Samuel Makgoro after surviving a Matebele onslaught.
In his post-match interview Mpofu admitted it could have been worse for the ‘salt miners’. “If you were not here (at the stadium) you would think it was a tightly contested game, but if we face reality, we were lucky. We were lucky in the first half and periods of the second half,” he said.
However, he said the side's lethargic display could have been a result of the sombre mood that engulfed the Flamingoes camp after news of their former coach, Rahman Gumbo’s death filtered through. Gumbo was in charge of Flamingoes last season and coached the majority of the current players, who, according to Mpofu, were devastated with some breaking down in tears. “Overall, today I think we were not ourselves. It’s not the team that I coach every week.
Remember, the majority of the players here were coached by Rahman. I don’t know if it (his death) had an effect. It’s not an excuse, they tried hard to play and honour him,” Mpofu said. The game was played at a brisk pace with both sides showing good tactical awareness. It was Matebele with the early inquiries, dominating the midfield with some crisp short passing. But against the run of play, Flamingoes found themselves in front as Makgoro poked home past the advancing goalkeeper, Mbemutjiua Mata in the 30th minute.
On the left, Mcebisi Moyo was a constant menace and created chances which were, however, spurned. In the second half, Matebele piled the pressure and the ledger was evened in the 65th as veteran Obonye Moswate planted a header beyond Moko. After the equaliser, the tempo dropped as both coaches made multiple substitutions.
When a share of the spoils looked likely, substitute Thatayaone Nkwapa had other ideas as he placed the ball beyond Moko with five minutes of regulation time remaining. Matebele coach, Nicholas Woody Jacobs was happy his side had arrested a two game losing streak. “It was important to get the result here today. I think we grind it out against all odds. But I think on the balance of play, we deserved it,” Jacobs said. The coach was, however, not happy with the ‘lousy’ goal his team conceded but said the international break gives them time to work on their mistakes.
The teams Matebele Mbemutjiua Mata, Pholoso Mapitse, Kgosietsile Ernest, Obonye Moswate, Utlwang Ramakgathi, Alphius Selefho, Romeo Kasume, Bonno Masea (c) (Kemoreng Batisani), Bernard Kebotseng, McCartney Naweseb (Thatayaone Nkwapa), Emmanuel Thabe (Kutlo Molelomodimo)
Flamingoes Kenneth Moko, Ngwako Ramokgathadi, Kaone Vander Westhuizen, Gomotsang Tselaesele (Thabang Mooketsi), Brian Botsang, Marius Kotze, Samuel Makgoro, Mcebisi Moyo (Godknows Mutina), Tendai Nyumasi (c ) (Boikubo Osupile), Bame Morwalela (Botshelo Mafoko), Kevin Bulala(Keorapetse Ramokgathadi)
Matebele 2 (Moswate 65th, Nkwapa 85th) Flamingoes 1 (Makgoro 30th)