Matebele clinch mascom top 8 title
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Tuesday March 4, 2014 10:03
The military side went home P1 million richer after missing the prize last season when they lost to Gaborone United (GU) in the final. BDF XI won on Saturday 5-4 through post-match penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Fears that the rainy weather would impact negatively on the match proved futile as the two sides displayed good football before a sizeable crowd. Without key midfielder, Lawrence Majawa, Rollers struggled to match BDF XI in the midfield. Majawa failed a late fitness test and was dropped from the squad ahead of the final. His replacement, Lesego Molemogi, tried his best but fell short against two strong BDF XI midfielders, Bonolo Phuduhudu and Patrick Motsepe. Two minutes into the game, BDF XI nearly took the lead but defender, Oscar Ncenga cleared off the line with his goalkeeper, Mwampule Masule well beaten. Moments later, Rollers went on the offensive with Sekhana Koko hitting the upright, allowing BDF XI defence, led by Moreetsi Mosimanyana to make a decisive clearance. Mosimanyana proved why he has been included in the national team squad with his timely interventions against skillful and speedy Rollers’ forwards.
With BDF XI dominating the midfield, Rollers’ speedy wingers, Koko and Kobamelo Kebaikanye were forced to drop deep, leaving exciting striker, Jerome Louis isolated. Towards the end of the first half, Masule was the busier of the two goalkeepers. He made a brilliant save to deny Master Masitara. A few minutes before halftime, BDF XI surged forward and Molemogi was forced to commit a foul outside the box. Boitumelo Mafoko’s long ball into Rollers’ area was deflected into the net to give BDF XI a well-deserved lead. The goal separated the two sides at half time.
At the start of the second half, Rollers were awarded a penalty and Namibian striker, Louis, converted, taking his tally to five in the competition. He will pocket P20,000 as the top goal scorer in the tournament. Both sides made substitutions in the middle of the second half as the search for a winning goal intensified. Kebaikanye who was quiet for most of the match, made way for Lovemore Murirwa on the wing while BDF XI removed Masitara for Saukani Zulu. BDF XI had an upper hand, winning many balls in the midfield. The game went into extra time as both sides failed to break the 1-1 deadlock. Rollers survived a scare in extra time when Ncenga nearly turned dangerous cross into his own net. His clearing header hit the upright before going out for a corner kick.
In the post-match shoot-out, BDF XI scored all their first five spot-kicks while Gofaone Tiro missed for Rollers for a 5-4 result. After the final of the Top Eight, Rollers and BDF XI will now battle for supremacy in the league. BDF XI leads Rollers in the race for the league title by one point.
This is how the teams took their penalties: Louis (Rollers) scored, Masitara (BDF XI) scored, Tiro (Rollers) missed, Zulu (BDF XI) scored, Murirwa (Rollers) scored, Pelontle Lerole (BDF XI) scored, Motsholetsi Sikele (Rollers) scored, Khumbulani Madziba (BDF XI) scored, Leutlwetse Tshireletso (Rollers) scored, Mokgathi Mokgathi (BDF XI) scored.
The line-ups:
Rollers: Masule, Obonye Moswate, Thato Bolweleng, Tshireletso, Ncenga, Molemogi (Ngwenya) (Tiro), Koko, Maano Ditshupo, Louis, Sikele, Kebaikanye (Murirwa)
BDF XI: Takudzwa Ndoro, Lerole, Otlantshekela Mooketsi, Mosimanyana, Mafoko, Motsepe, Phuduhudu (Madziba), Thato Ogopotse, Mokgathi, Masitara (Zulu), Kabelo Seakanyeng
Cautions: Tshireletso, Motsepe, Ditshupo, Mafoko
Referee: Keabetswe Dintwa