Police XI Overcome Jwaneng Galaxy
Tumelo Mouwane | Monday August 10, 2015 14:46
From the word go, both teams were showing enormous level of preparedness to compete in the recently kick-started beMOBILE League. In their first game this season, both teams came into the battle with a notable level of fitness and mental preparedness.
In the first minutes, the match was balanced. Police side then took over the flight towards the 10th minute.
They piloted the game, showing their premier league experience. They dominated the game to an extent that they almost pinned an opener 13 minutes into the game. They hit the Jwaneng side left post, leaving the much height disadvantaged Jwaneng Galaxy shot stopper, Anthony Gouws in awe.
In response the Galaxy side started to play a very possessive style of football, knocking a number of passes without Police’s interception. Kenanao Kgetholetsile retaliated to Police XI’s threats, giving their goalkeeper Bokamoso Maeba a hard assignment, but Maeba was very sure footed between his posts.
It was during the 27th minute into the first half that Phenyo Molefe nailed the Jwaneng side with a free header. Molefe utilised the height disadvantage that made it impossible for Gouws to grab high balls. The goal became a game changer as Galaxy then fought endlessly to secure an equaliser, but the Police force side assembled themselves good enough to halt the Jwaneng side’s attempts. Katlego Masole alongside Bokamoso Maeba merged to make a solid defence against Galaxy’s strike force.
Galaxy kept knocking on Police XI’s back line in a goal seeking operation, but luck was not on their side as Atisang Batsi failed to complete an amazing counter attack initiated by Mosimanegape Ngongorego who dished a breakthrough to Batsi.
Oris Radipotsane’s squad had an upper hand in the dying minutes of the first half and the game became more aggressive as a number of yellow cards were issued. Betsho Pius was cautioned for false fall in the penalty zone and Goareng Bagale was also immediately warned following a nasty tackle. As the aggressiveness went on, the next victim of yellow card was Gilbert Baruti who got cautioned in the added minute of the first half.
As the boat sunk, Oris Radipotsane utilised all his substitutions. He replaced Goareng Bagale with Tshiamo Moreetsi and within minutes made yet another substitution when the influential Tshepo Morake made way for Ohilwe.
Jwaneng side were not ready to go down quietly.
They came back in the second half as a technically better team, pressing Police into their own half hunting for an equaliser. Their efforts were however only rewarded on the 52nd minute when they were awarded a penalty which Mmusa Ohilwe netted.
But Police XI did not want to allow the new league entrants to overrun them and introduced Tapiwa Gadibolae for Kawasu Makai, who was already showing signs of stamina lapse. Gadiboalae immediately punished the Jwaneng side with a long well calculated ball that for the second time beat Gouws because of his disadvantaged height. Poloko Khole saved the Police force side in the dying minutes of the second half when he cleared the ball just exactly on goal line. The immense defence worked out for Police to claim the three points.
Jwaneng Galaxy head coach, Radipotsane blamed his team’s loss on bad state of the stadium. He said he has been preparing his team on a good ground, only to find a poor ground. “This ground is very bumpy, I never expected to find such ground. I have been training in a good ground in Jwaneng, only to find a bushy ground here. You cannot tell if it’s a ground or a bush. Anyway hard luck to the boys, we will improve,” Radipotsane said.
The line-ups:
Police XI: Bokamoso Maeba, Katlego Masole, Dikgakgamatso Kesolofetse, Poloko Khole, Louis Minjale, Letlhogonolo Senwelo, Ogomoditswe Sitang, Joseph Joseph, Penyo Molefe, Kawashu Makai, Betsho Pius
Reserves: Uyapo Seleka, Otlaadisa Manyika, Koketso Monyake, Tapiwa Gadibolae, and Bobby Mathe.
Jwaneng Galaxy: Anthony Gouws, Thabo Leinanyane, Mosimanegape Ngongorego, Tebogo Moroka, Boitumelo Mafoko, Tebogo Sosome, Olebogeng Malebye, Olebogeng Malebye, Goareng Bagale, Atisang Batsi, Kenano Kgetholetsile, Tshepo Borake
Reserves: Tebogo Sembowa, George Ohilwe, Onalenna Molelekwa, Gilbert Baruti, Tshiamo Moreetsi, Ezekiel Morake, Lesego Lubinda
Police XI 2 (Molefe 27th, Gadibolae)
Galaxy 1 (Ohilwe 52nd)