Da Costa Blasts Match Officials, League Administrators
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday May 6, 2019 11:54
Galaxy had to come from a goal down to keep themselves in league contention with just a game left. However, da Costa was an unimpressed man with the match referee, Keabetswe Dintwa and also said the playing ground should be level, citing that title rivals, Township Rollers have one game advantage over his side.
“What I do not like is that you reach to the last week of the season and there is one team with two games to play while one team with one. People should preserve football, they will play the games knowing that they have a game (more), it is a pillow, a comfort to be and if you think that would contravene the championship (race) then you are wrong. I am not complaining. What I am saying is that things should be fair.”
“Speaking about fairness, I do not usually speak about the match referee, but I saw here today it is too much. If you look at the first penalty (to GU), I think even Jesus Christ up there was complaining, ‘what was that’. The referee was on the other side of the pitch and he said he thinks he saw a handball, and penalty on our favour. The goalkeeper was the last man of defence, why was he not sent off? There are lots of questions. There are people who do not want to question this, but I am questioning this because I am defending Botswana football not my club,” da Costa said.
On the pitch, The Reds were awarded a penalty just three minutes into the game, however, Thatayaone Kgamanyane’s effort from the spot was saved by Ezekiel Morake. GU dealt with an injury blow as reliable defender, Godwin Bonsu was stretched off, and Michael Tinye replaced him in the seventh minute.
In the 10th minute, Gift Moyo had his shot parried away by the goalkeeper for a corner. The reds squandered a golden opportunity after Morake parried back into play Kgamanyane’s initial shot into play. The ball fell unto Tshepo Malgas, but with a goalmouth wide open he shot over the bar. The two sides went into break level at 0-0. Just three minutes into the second half, Gaopatwe Seosenyeng set up Patrick Kabamba who tapped in to give GU the lead. In the 58th minute, Dirang Moloi forced a great save from Morake from a free kick.
Galaxy were awarded a penalty into the 72nd minute after Goitseone Phoko brought down Olebogeng Malebye. Thero Setsile stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. Six minutes later, Setsile doubled his side’s lead with a low driven long shot, beating Phoko to the bottom corner with his 18th of the league campaign.
The teams:
GU: Phoko, Alphord Velaphi, Tshepo Maikano, Gosegonna Molapisi, Bonsu (Tinye), Seosenyeng (Bophelo Oaitse), Rentse Keakabetse, Malgas (Jerome Ramatlhakwana), Kabamba, Moloi, Kgamanyane
Galaxy: Morake, Isaac Paeye, Moagi Sechele, Fortunate Thulare, Gilbert Baruti (Patrick Kaunda), Lebogang Ditsele, Tebogo Sembowa (Karabo Phiri), Malebye, Thato Kebue, Moyo (Kutlwelo Mpolokang), Setsile
Cautions: Maikano, Kebue
GU 1 (Kabamba 48th)
Galaxy 2 (Setsile 72nd pen, 78th)