Veggies cook Gunners for first top-flight feast
Kabelo Boranabi | Wednesday August 27, 2025 11:44
In their debut top-flight fixture, Santa Green settled for a goalless draw against TAFIC at home. Speaking to SportMonitor, assistant coach Raymond Chiwita admitted that the team is still adjusting to life in the elite league but stressed that survival remains their primary objective.
“We are happy with the progress, but we are not yet there. What I can say is the intention is to avoid the red (zone), and gradually we are showing signs that we can. We are not yet there, but we continue trying to get better,” said Chiwita. Santa Green endured a shaky start as the home side pressed for an early goal. Within the opening 15 minutes, Gunners carved out three clear chances through Senatla Molefhe, Kabelo Babusi, and Kesekile Chivese, but none could find the target. The visitors eventually grew into the game and created opportunities of their own, though without troubling the Gunners’ defence. The first half ended goalless.
Just two minutes after the restart, Gunners’ Sphamandla Sabelo tested the goalkeeper but was denied. Then, in the 62nd minute, Thatayaone Magazi produced a moment of brilliance, firing into the top corner to hand Santa Green the lead. Gunners pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but their attempts lacked the cutting edge as the Veggies held firm to claim maximum points on the road.
The teams:
Gunners: Kabelo Kuti, Moloi Thuto, Thamiso Gaogangwe, Oleseng Kale, Bobby Motlhabankwe, Ofentse Nato (Tiroyaone Maome), Senatla Molefhe (Brendon Molefhe), Kabelo Babusi (Tumelo Sentle), Kgatlo Kgati, Sphamandla Sabelo, Kesekile Chivese (Legend Monyake)
Santa Green: Onkgopotse Teemane, Josemar Quietque, Otlarongwa Nthumolang, Charles Mujokeri, Benson Mosokobanji, Thatayaone Magazi, Ontiretse Ranthakeng, Andrian Domingos, Kgosikwena Kgosikwena, Marema Gabohole
Gunners 0 Santa 1 (Magazi 62nd)