Gunners shock Chiefs
Chippa Legodimo | Monday April 7, 2014 10:55
Ecstatic followers of Lobatse giants, Extension Gunners ululated, whistled, marched and hooted in Gaborone following their team’s shock 1-0 victory against arch-rivals Mochudi Centre Chiefs in the be MOBILE Premier League at the National Stadium on Saturday. New Gunners’ coach, Stanojlovic Dragojlo could not contain his excitement after defender, Desire Bafana headed in the only goal of the match after five minutes. Chiefs had the first chance of the match when Lemponye Tshireletso earned a penalty seconds into the game but Bonolo Fraizer’s powerful effort from the spot was blocked by young Gunners’ goalkeeper Wagaree Dikago.
Gunners were spurred into full song almost immediately as they started surging forward in search of the opener which came through the head of Bafana after a cross from the right.
With Gunners locking-up both Tshireletso and Pontsho Moloi, Chiefs’ only route to goal could have been through the centre but Elvis Meleka sat too deep to provide the option. Former top goal scorer and Chiefs’ returnee Kekaetswe ‘Mara’ Moloi also failed to rise to the occasion, hence his replacement in the second half. A loose ball fell to him in the 46th minute but he failed to get his first shot of the match count, blazing over the bar. Chiefs failed to utilise space in the middle of the pitch, but Gunners’ Mosimanegape Ntwaetsile did not take advantage to rip through to add more bite in attack. He was guilty of making the wrong choices, hardly pushing forward to give his team the attacking edge.
Pako Modikwa and Nsongamile Shabby, leading the Gunners’ attack pressed Thabiso Khunwane and Arnold Chaka in the heart of the Chiefs’ defence. Modikwa nearly increased Gunners’ tally in the 25th minute, but his effort hit the cross bar on its way out. Shabby who was clearly not comfortable on the ball, wasted what could have been Gunners’ best chance. He made a wrong decision in the 30th minute, opting to pass the ball to Modikwa when the best option could have been taking a shot himself. His passed the ball behind his teammates and wasted the chance completely.
Five minutes before the break, Meleka squandered what could have been Chiefs’ equaliser shooting over the cross bar when a simple tap-in could have done the job. With only Dikago to beat, Chiefs’ dribbling wizard, Pontsho Moloi shot wide before the half ended.
Chiefs’ coach, Mike Sithole, trying to salvage something from the match, introduced David Makakaba early in the second half and the move seemed to help bring stability to the Kgatleng side.
The former Police XI forward breathed new life into Chiefs’ game and gave Lesego Galenamotlhale more options.
Though Chiefs continued to dominate, Gunners’ defence stood firm for the victory. Musa Ohilwe and Bafana came out of the test with excellent marks for their outstanding performance against the defending champions.
Galenamotlhale watched in agony as his long range effort went narrowly past the right post in the 75th minute with Gunners defence in sixes and sevens.
As this became evident that victory was in sight, Gunners supporters stepped up their celebrations in an electrifying atmosphere at the stadium. They were nearly stunned in a heart-stopping moment when Pontsho Moloi volley came off the cross bar a minute before stoppage time.