Dinare roar past Lions to maintain perfect start
Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:58
However, the kings of the jungle fell agonisingly short as Dinare (the Buffaloes) carried the day, thanks to two superb strikes from seasoned forward, Thatayaone ‘Popo’ Ramatlapeng. The former Township Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs burly attacker found the net either side of the break to send Dinare clear at the top of the table after two rounds of matches.
Dinare had opened their season with a 3-0 demolition of Notwane, but Saturday’s victory carried greater significance as it came against fellow title contenders. Black Lions were relegated from the FNB Premiership last season and are eager to secure an immediate return to the top flight. Both sides showed they have the quality to compete at the highest level, serving up attractive football in an open and absorbing 90 minutes. However, poor decision-making in the final third proved to be the Achilles heel for both title contenders. The Ramotswa side took the lead as fans were still settling into their seats, as ‘Popo’ smashed a free-kick into the net. The pendulum swung from one end to the other, but the Lions had to wait until three minutes after the restart to find the equaliser through Onkemetse Powe.
Ramatlapeng then produced a moment of magic, weaving his way through a forest of defenders before planting home the winner with 12 minutes remaining. Dinare coach, Joel Mogorosi was pleased with Popo’s contribution, saying the club expected such performances from the experienced forward. “That is what we expect from him. We signed him to come and decide games like this. We want him to show the boys how it is done, as we need to win all our games. “It is not going to be easy, but that is what we want. If we don’t get promoted, we would have failed,” Mogorosi said.
He said Dinare had sufficient quality within the squad, as well as the backing of the club’s board, to achieve their objective. “Today we were not at our best, but the good part is that the players understand they have to sweat for a result. We are used to scoring goals, but I tell them that sometimes you just have to score one goal and preserve it. The other issue was the heat,” he added. Black Lions coach Ikageng ‘Farouk’ Tsatsi described the encounter as a game of two halves, with Dinare taking control of the first stanza. “They punished us against the run of play.
After the recess, we had the game and scored an early goal. They dominated the midfield. I would say we failed to bridge the gap between the midfield and the strikers. That is what cost us,” he said. Tsatsi said that, despite the defeat, the objective remained an immediate return to the FNB Premiership. He also bemoaned his side’s lack of decisiveness in the final third. After the conclusion of the second round, Dinare have six points, while Black Lions remain on three points and sit fifth on the table. In other matches, Security Systems beat Jwaneng Young Stars 1-0, while Uniao Flamengo Santos defeated Motaung Young Fighters 3-1.
Thamaga Shooting Stars and Tlokweng United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. The match between Kanye United and Notwane failed to proceed after the Gaborone side failed to produce match sheets.
Black Lions 1 Powe (48th) Dinare 2 (Ramatlapeng 15th, 78th)