Gunners, TAFIC trade blows in high octane encounter
Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday October 20, 2026 10:58
The good crowd left the stadium satisfied with the 1-1 outcome as Gunners scored a last-gasp goal to salvage a point in a pulsating affair. The match was evenly balanced, although it appeared the visitors had done enough to travel back to Francistown with maximum points. However, referee Seoyatseng Joyce Tshephe did not fully stamp her authority on the match, leaving some offences unpunished. After exchanging blows in an encounter played at a high pace throughout, it was Matjimenyenga who went into the break with a 1-0 lead, thanks to new signing, Brighton 'Maninja' Ncube.
Ncube, who was on the verge of joining Jwaneng Galaxy in January, was a constant threat to the Gunners defence. He was duly named man of the match after scoring his first goal of the season. 'It was a crucial game as we are on the same points as them. We kept pushing each other, and it's better we did not lose, although it's painful to concede right at the end,' Ncube said.
'My game was good, and I managed to push and get a goal, and that's an achievement for me,' he added. TAFIC coach, Zacharia Muzadzi was happy with his boys' application, with the team sitting in sixth position with eight points. 'We are still observing each and every player and seeing how they are responding to my philosophy. Some of these boys are from lower division teams; this is a new level for them, and there is a lot of pressure. 'I am happy with what they are doing. So far, so good. I would be asking for too much if I asked for more. They have done well,' Muzadzi said. He said his target was to compete and ensure the team stayed in the Premiership, adding that he had faith in his players.
His Gunners counterpart, Paradzayi Mandivenga, was equally satisfied with the point. 'We got a point. It was a hard-fought draw, and I think, for us, it's a fair point because this is a game which was slipping away from our hands. We did well to push for the equaliser; we used our speed. We missed chances in the last 15 minutes when we could have buried TAFIC.
It is something we are working on, to finish our chances,' Mandivenga said. He said they had made a satisfactory start to the new season and emphasised that the team must avoid finding itself in the relegation mix, as has happened in previous seasons. With the point, Gunners moved to eight points for the season and sit in eighth position.