Titanic Clash Ends In Stalemate
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday April 11, 2016 14:58
It was a chaotic weekend for local football as at one stage the fixtures were in doubt following the Botswana Premier League (BPL) board meeting over clubs’ failure to comply with player qoutas. However, the Botswana National Sport Commission reportedly intervened although the turbulence is far from over, with meetings to find a solution lined-up.
The game itself began at a slow pace. In the first 10 minutes, both goalkeepers were untested as the teams displayed a namby-pamby attacking football. However, Rollers squandered two scoring chances with Simisane Mathumo and Joel Mogorosi headers going wide in the third and ninth minutes respectively.
Chiefs took the game to their opponents using their wingers. Senatla Molefe was giving Tshepo Motlhabankwe a torrid time on the left flank, with the latter getting a booking after conceding a free-kick in the 32nd minute. Pontsho Moloi curled in the free-kick, but Kabelo Dambe was up to the task. The teams went into recess level.
Chiefs looked by far the better side in the second half and their efforts were rewarded in the 52nd minute as Onalethata Tshekiso broke the deadlock, beating Dambe with a finesse finish for his first goal of the season.
Four minutes later, Mogorosi got the better of two defenders but his lob hit the side net. Galabgwe Moyana levelled the matters from a well taken free kick leaving keeper Raphael Nthwane motionless in the 77th minute after Chiefs committed a foul on substitute Sekhana Koko. Nthwane was later substituted after a collision with Mogorosi. The player was down for eight minutes. After the final whistle, Rollers players crowded the match officials questioning the time added on.
“We knew they will come out; they had to beat us that’s why we lined up to be solid and compact. We gave away a silly goal. It was never going to be a goal until the defender made a mistake,” said Rollers coach, Mark Harrison.
His opposite number, Chiefs’ coach Mike Sithole praised his team’s display on the night adding that the title race is still open. “The boys played well, they played according to instructions. We went to the half time level, but we do not have that depth to kill the game,” he said
Chiefs: Raphael Nthwane (Mompoloki Sephekolo), Othusitse Pilane, Lesego Galenamotlhale, Thato Kebue, Kaelo Kgaswane, Lesego Molemogi, Tendai Nyumasi, Senatla Molefe (Thatayaone Ramatlapeng), Pontsho Moloi, Onalethata Tshekiso
Rollers: Kabelo Dambe, Tshepo Motlhabankwe, Simisane Mathumo, Mogogi Gabonamong, Kaone van Der Westuhuizen, Lawrence Majawa, Ofentse Nato, Maano Ditshupo (Sekhana Koko), Joel Mogorosi, Galabye Moyana (Segolame Boy), Terrence Mandaza (Edwin Moalosi)
Cautions: Motlhabankwe,
Chiefs (0) 1 (Tshekiso 52nd)
Rollers (0) 1 (Moyana 77th)