Tonota FC set early title pace
Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday October 6, 2026 10:19
The investment has so far paid dividends, with Thaloba 'Machine' Nthaga's side collecting eight points from opening four matches.
They have won two and drawn two, with their latest victory coming against Matebele FC at the GU Stadium on Saturday.
Tonota dominated the attacking exchanges against a youthful Matebele side but had to wait until the final minute of the first half to make their pressure count.
DRC forward, Otinel Nsunzu, swept the ball home after another typical Tonota raid down the right.
Matebele returned a transformed side after the break, matching their more illustrious opponents but lacking the quality required in the final third.
Substitute Leago Masisi provided the home side with much-needed attacking impetus.
However, Setsile's thunderbolt midway through the second half extended Tonota's lead before Matebele pulled one back through off-season arrival Austin Ketshabamang in the 82nd minute.
With the game entering its dying embers, Aobakwe Tshobo calmed Tonota's nerves with a third goal, sealing victory and sending Sepondo Se A Debola to the summit of the log.
Nthaga said his team had anticipated a conservative approach from Matebele in the first half.
'We saw them playing the low block but we needed to be patient. The one thing that I was not happy with, we did not challenge them enough,' he said.
'We needed to probe their last line of defence more, but I am happy that we went to the break leading one-zero. We knew that there would be a lot of openings in the second half as they chased a goal.'
Nthaga believes his side has enough quality to compete for victories throughout the season, with the technical team tasked with delivering Tonota's first Premiership title.
'For me, what is important is what we do week after week. As a coach, every game that you play, you play to win three points and see how far it takes you. We have the quality to win a lot of games this season,' Nthaga added.
Matebele assistant coach Kago Boikanyo admitted that his side made a poor start, with players repeatedly giving away possession cheaply.
'We gave away possession cheaply, but in the second half we came back a better side. We have a lot of young boys. Leago always gives us a lift when he comes in the second half. We will see how to encourage him to get a start,' he said.
Boikanyo said Matebele had endured a difficult transfer window, failing to secure some of their preferred targets, with avoiding relegation their primary objective this season.
Matebele are yet to register a point from their four matches and are 15th in the 16team log.